Midterm elections will occur on Nov. 3 and Mayor Erica Stewart is running for reelection to serve San Luis Obispo. Stewart is seeking a third term as San Luis Obispo’s mayor and is running unopposed.
Stewart is a Cal Poly alum and is currently a professor in the communication studies department at Cal Poly. She teaches Introduction to Public Speaking (COMS 1101).
This election, her campaign will focus on further reducing homelessness, supporting local businesses and advancing housing development.
Students can look toward the County of San Luis Obispo’s general election fact sheet for more information on voter registration.
Homelessness
According to a press release, the city has seen a 42% reduction in unsheltered homelessness since 2022 which was made possible through Stewart’s partnership with different programs.
Stewart collaborated with the Welcome Home Village, where individuals can receive pre-employment assistance, mental health services or recovery from substance abuse.
“I feel like we’re really making strides on decreasing homelessness,” Stewart said in an interview with Mustang News. “And I think by having more low income homes, that’s gonna be part of it.”
Environment
In her next term, she said she plans to continue to take environmentally conscious actions to ensure the city does not fall behind on its 2035 carbon neutrality goal.
“We have converted many of our buses from gas to electric, and we have more on order,” Stewart said.
Stewart additionally said lights in parking structures have been changed to LEDs to increase sustainability.
Economy
Stewart previously owned a wholesale bakery and sold to caterers and to restaurants. She originally planned to become a chef.
“I ended up getting really involved in student government and I changed that trajectory in industry, but I still really love cooking, and I still love baking,” Stewart said.
As a former small business owner, Stewart said she aims to strengthen local businesses.
Stewart said she is proud of the Buy Local Bonus program, which began before her term as mayor. She stated the city has added an estimated $4 million in revenue because of the program.
During the holiday season, the city buys $25 gift cards from different businesses, and anyone who spends $100 at local shops may receive a gift card when they show their receipt to the Chamber of Commerce, according to Stewart.
The city’s economic development department also created a business tool kit. It helps people narrow down their interests and find the right business idea to launch.
“They created this to help businesses that are new, that want to open or businesses that want to grow,” Stewart said. “As we continue to listen to the downtown association [and] the business Chamber of Commerce, we continue to hear what’s working, what’s not working and try to make changes when we can.”
Construction
Stewart said she advocated for transparency between the city’s construction projects and their effects on other small businesses in San Luis Obispo.
When a street is closed due to construction, clear communication may help avoid congestion on the streets and have customers plan ahead on how they will be visiting that particular business.
Stewart said residents can sign up for SLO in Motion notifications, which provides updates on closed streets and keeps community members in the loop.