Vote for Gomez
My name is Jennifer Chassman Browne, and I am a local educator and disability advocate. I am writing this letter in support of electing Marisa Gomez as school board trustee for area 2. I met Marisa when she came to my door as she was beginning to canvass for her campaign. I was struck by her openness to hear me, her commitment to our schools and students, and her desire to do right by all who are impacted by our education system.
Marisa brings a unique and critical set of skills to this role and is an educator at heart. Her experiences range from work related to assessing challenges in education and making recommendations for how to meet those challenges, to work on second-language learning for bilingual students. She is committed to serving all students and their families and to ensuring that teachers are supported in being successful.
Marisa understands that the world in which our students are growing up is changing and that school culture needs to change along with it. Because of this reality, she supports creating programs and approaches that provide strong technology literacy for all students and school policies that address the changing AI and technology use landscape.
Her efforts will be aimed at making sure that students have the variety of programs, academic and co-curricular, that support their growth and learning.
Lastly, Marisa deeply recognizes the importance of being visible and available to those who she will serve. I know that she will always have a listening ear and be present for the families whose children attend our local schools.
Jennifer Chassman Browne
Los Osos
Winholtz Claims to be Educator
Having retired from 25 years as a secondary teacher at Los Osos Middle and Morro Bay High it sounds misleading to me that candidate for School Board Ms. Betty Winholtz claims to be an “educator,” yet she has no record of public K-12 employment.
Colby C. Crotzer
Morro Bay
Democratic Club Endorces Rodger for Trustee
The El Moro Democratic Club has endorsed Marilyn Rodger, and we believe she is the best candidate for San Luis Coastal Unified School District (SLCUSD) District 1 Trustee. The El Moro Club covers Los Osos, Morro Bay and the North Coast of SLO County.
Marilyn has a proven record as an “advocate for all children” as the District 1 incumbent. San Luis Coastal is the highest performing district in SLO County with several schools being recognized for achievement.
Some of the accomplishments that have been achieved during the time Marilyn has served include working with the Education Foundation to build innovation labs at all elementary schools, enhanced counseling across the district, including bilingual counseling at elementary, middle, and high schools.
Marilyn has the experience and compassion that is needed to continue the work of the SLCUSD.
Vote Marilyn Rodger by November 3rd.
Lori Caudill and Vita Miller
Co-Chairs of the El Moro Democratic Club
Winholtz for School Board
While school boards have influence on educating our students by how they budget money, it’s the teachers who directly influence student success. Kudos to the teachers and their support staff for the recent attention bestowed on the San Luis Coastal Unified School District.
As the incumbent for Trustee Area 1, Ms. Rodger is a retired retail manager and has served six four-year terms on the school board. She lives in Los Osos but the area she represents in predominantly Morro Bay. Her decisions while on the board have been complimented for being student oriented in her votes on the school board, but this does not match recent decisions. In particular, I am thinking about the choice to replace grass with artificial turf. It’s documented that the latter increases ankle, knee, and burn injuries. Artificial turf can reach 100 degrees and must be watered. Was this a student-centered decision or a financial decision.
To close the $5 million budget gap, the school board voted to cut elementary school librarians, middle school counselors, and money for athletic travel and musical instruments. Was this a student-centered alternative, cutting direct services to students?
As a retired teacher of 27 years, I prefer to give my support to a new voice, someone who I feel is more qualified. Someone who is experienced at asking financial and policy questions and who as a 30+ year tutor, has only been student oriented. Please vote for Betty Winholtz.
Betsy Gaudette-Cross
Morro Bay
Vote Early
By now all eligible California voters should have received their mail-in ballot for the November 3 general election. If you have not received your ballot, go to www.slovote.gov to check your status and register to vote. There you can also find your polling place and the locations of the many vote-by-mail drop boxes throughout the county.
The League of Women Voters urges voters to vote early. Anticipating high voter turnout and recognizing that there may be delays with the mail, we urge everyone to mail or drop off their ballot at least one week before the election or by October 26.
Once again, we remind voters that elections in California are secure. Do not be misled by false claims of voter fraud. Multiple court decisions and research conducted by institutions across the political spectrum have debunked claims that election fraud is rampant. Voter fraud is rare and voting by non-citizens is practically non-existent. Voting by mail is secure. Claims of voter fraud are themselves fraudulent.
Your vote is your voice, your power. It may be the only power you have to influence the political decisions that affect your daily life. Use it. Register, be informed, and cast your ballot with confidence that your vote will be counted.
League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County
Marisa Gomez for Board of Trustees
I am a parent of five SLCUSD kids, and I’m voting for Marisa Gomez for Board of Trustees this fall. While some people just run for office, Marisa has been training for it, and she is ready to cross the finish line while the others will still be stretching.
I have witnessed Marisa’s leadership in action. Over the past six years, she has orchestrated parent meetings and information sessions at both Baywood and Los Osos middle school to ensure that students in the coast’s dual immersion program would have every chance of success. She wants the district to succeed on a whole, and the people inside to thrive. She has my vote!
Tyler Penney
Los Osos
Supporting Marisa Gomez for SLCUSD School Board
As the parent of two children who spent 13 years in San Luis Coastal Unified School District (SLCUSD) schools, the brother of a sibling with a disability, and an Emeritus Professor and former Director of Graduate and Teacher Preparation in Special Education Programs at Cal Poly, I am writing to support the candidacy of Marisa Gomez for SLCUSD School Board in the upcoming November 4, 2026, election.
While there are multiple reasons why Marisa will help lead SLCUSD in the right direction, what really struck me about her is the importance she places on listening and giving voice to all stakeholders in the educational process, including those whose voices may be quieter or not yet heard. My own educational research confirms that solutions to educational challenges can often be found in such listening and giving voice to those nearest to the challenges.
As a concerned parent and citizen with a background in educational writing, Marisa has demonstrated this ability to listen carefully and give voice to the parents, teachers, and administrators she connected with in working collaboratively to establish the Baywood Elementary Dual Language Immersion Program approved by the SLCUSD in 2019, years before she was prompted to run for school board.
As an eloquent speaker and educational writer in English and Spanish, Marisa is the person we need to collaborate with standing board members in leading our district forward.
Michael (Mike) Ruef, Ph. D., Los Osos
Betty for School Board
Betty Winholtz has put kids first for decades and as a school board trustee she will always advocate for safety and the best education for the kids and this special community they live in.
Let’s not forget, Betty was instrumental in preventing a 600 MW lithium battery storage system/fire bomb from being built on Morro Bay’s waterfront and preserving historic Morro Elementary from being torn down. She knows how to protect our kids and get things done!! Vote for Betty, we are!
Rocky and Judy Setting, Morro Bay
Glavan for School Board
As a longtime Los Osos resident, mother of two, and former PTA president at Monarch Grove Elementary, I have seen firsthand who truly shows up for our schools. Michael Glavan is one of those people.
Michael isn’t someone who became involved because he decided to run for office. He has consistently volunteered his time, supported our schools, and been a familiar presence on campus. I have watched him engage with parents, teachers, staff, and students, listen to their concerns, and step forward when something needs to be done.
That matters to me. School board members make decisions that directly affect our children, teachers, and families. We need representatives who understand our schools not only from board meetings and reports, but from actually being part of the school community.
Michael brings that perspective as a parent, volunteer, veteran, and community leader. Just as importantly, he listens, asks thoughtful questions, and is willing to advocate for what our students and schools need.
I have seen Michael’s commitment firsthand, and I am proud to support Michael Glavan for SLCUSD Board of Trustees, Area 2.
Anna Watterworth, Los Osos
