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September 18:The Latino Voter Engagement Project
The Latino Voter Engagement Project is well under way, having hosted community events in Atascadero, San Miguel, Nipomo, Oceano, Cambria, and San Luis Obispo. These student-led events were highlighted in a recent Tribune article here. Cal Poly Professors Victoria Zamora and Marion Hart, along with student leader Alondra Cardoso, attended the recent League Opening Meeting and updated attendees on the project. The League is proud to support these efforts to reach out to the Latino community in our County with tools to encourage civic participation and increase voter literacy.
September 19: The League Empty Chair Policy
On September 19, the League moderated a candidates forum for the City of Arroyo Grande which was to include the contested Mayoral and City Council races. The League was notified that one of the two City Council candidates would not appear at the forum. As a result, the other candidate was not able to participate. While it is understandable that the candidate and the public were disappointed, the League has a longstanding “Empty Chair” policy that states “the League may never hold or cosponsor a forum if only one candidate is able to participate in a forum event. To hold a one-candidate event could easily be construed as partisan, an endorsement of the candidate present or a contribution to or expenditure on behalf of that candidate”. Moderator Ed Cabrera reported that despite their disappointment, the candidates expressed their disagreement with the policy in a civil and respectful manner and the forum continued for the mayoral candidates.
The following day, the Tribune printed an opinion piece about the forum that highlighted the League’s role in making the candidates available to the voters. "That’s where the League of Women Voters comes in. It plays an outsized role in educating voters in an unbiased, bipartisan manner by moderating forums throughout the county. Those events give voters information they won’t find in glossy mailers, well-curated posts on social media or TV soundbites." See the Tribune opinion piece here.
The candidate forum team led by Shelly Higginbotham works hard to ensure the forums are run in a professional and nonpartisan manner in accordance with League principles. It’s great to see the League’s contributions appreciated. If you missed any of the past forums, view them on our YouTube Channel and look for forums coming to your area in the future by checking our website calendar.
September 26: Letter to the Editor
A letter to the editor encouraging voters to study the ballot measures carefully as they prepare to vote was published in the New Times on September 26. Read it here. The League urges voters to read the supporting and opposing statements, find out what the measure would actually do, beware of vague language and misleading information, determine who the sponsors and opponents are, and consider the fiscal impact of the measure.
October 10, 1 pm: Julie Rodewald on KCBX
Julie Rodewald, LWV SLOCO Voter Service Chair, will be the guest on KCBX Central Coast Voices on October 10 at 1 pm to talk with Fred Munroe about Vote by Mail Voting and the upcoming election. Cal Poly political science professor Michael Latner will be joining in the conversation as well. Central Coast Voices addresses the many ramifications of change and how today's choices will affect tomorrow's community. This program is committed to exploring ideas about how to improve the quality of life in San Luis Obispo County with individuals and groups that are making an effort to make the Central Coast a better place to live for all. The show's topics and guests focus on raising public awareness about local and regional concerns such as health care access, neighborhood design, the state of our education infrastructure, economic impacts, and much more. Your hosts Lata Murti, Mario Epinoza-Kulick, Kris Kington-Barker and Fred Munroe invite you to join the conversation. To participate, call 805-781-3875 during the program.
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