Michelle Shoresman, a current San Luis Obispo city council member, announced her reelection for city council outside of city hall on Thursday. There are only two open city council seats available for the upcoming city council election in November.
“Today as I stand here, when I wake up every morning and I look up at the news, I wonder what the heck I am going to see,” Shoresman said. “But despite all of this now more than ever I want to do this job. Because when so much feels out of control, we can make a difference here in SLO.”
Shoresman has served on city council since 2021, when she filled in a vacant seat after current Mayor Erica A. Stewart was elected as mayor. Shoresman also has been working as a division manager at the County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department for about 24 years.
She was officially elected for a four-year term on city council in 2022. Mayor Stewart, who has officially endorsed Shoresman, spoke at her reelection announcement.
“Her thoughtful and steady approach, she asks questions, she figures out what makes sense with policy and how do we get the outcome that we want,” Stewart said. “So, I am really excited to see her continue to look at finding real solutions to the issues we have in our community.”
Stewart and Shoresman met at Cal Poly when they were undergraduates and have served on city council together this past term.
However, this November election marks a change in how San Luis Obispo residents will vote for their city council members. Now, voters can only select one candidate on their ballot and the top two winners will receive the two open seats.
In the past, city council incumbents could support or endorse each other during the race. This new change will make voting more competitive if non-incumbents join the ballot.
“I feel like it’s part of my role as a candidate to help make sure the word gets out and make sure that everybody understands how it’s going to affect their ability to vote,” Shoresman told the Mustang News. “They need to understand that if they vote for two like they always have then their ballot will literally not count.”
Going into her next term, Shoresman plans to prioritize addressing housing and preserving the environment.
“I also really want to try to do what I can to preserve the quality of life here,” Shoresman said. “That’s why I think things like open space, safer streets and more walkability, I like to use the term ‘healthy neighborhoods,’ are high priorities for me.”
