HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/5/2021 Item 6a, Hanson
Delgado, Adriana
From:Matthew Hanson <matthewhansonstage@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, October 5,
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:City Council Member Selection Tonight: Comments & Endorsement
This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond.
To the Members of the San Luis Obispo City Council;
Tonight you will be making a momentous decision filling the seat of our former Mayor, and possibly a member of our
Council. While I am aware that this decision is yours to make, and do indeed support an appointment rather than a
special election as fiscally responsible, given a less than one-year term of service, I think making such a decision absent
the voices of those you represent would be antithetical to the values of this community and nation. As such offer these
remarks:
For the position of Council Member, I endorse Robin Wolf.
Having known and lived with Robin for now the majority of my life, I can say unequivocally no single person I know has
more passion, drive, or grit. She is unfaltering in her dedication to what she knows to be right and good, and has no
compunction about speaking her mind nor engaging opposition in thoughtful debate. She is a tireless champion for
those whose voices are often unheard in the halls of government: the working class, renters, minority voices, those who
make this city what it is, yet struggle to remain a part of this community in the face of ever rising costs and the looming
shadow of a quite vocal opposition who would rather they be neither seen nor heard. She knows them because she is
them. She knows what they want from their elected officials and knows how decisions made by the Council will affect
them. She firmly believes that a representative government only works if it truly represents all of its citizens.
Along side these values she is also keenly aware of the duties of this Council, and understands the need for a pragmatic,
fiscally responsible mind in this position. She understands both the incredible impact and the limitations of local
government, and is committed to reaching out to County, State and even Federal resources to meet their obligations to
our citizens, while working within the budget, means and purview of the City. As we have spent the last year together
building a new business, she has consistently been the one to say “That would be great, but how are we going to pay for
it?” She is the one who moves numbers around and keeps our budget both sensible and practical. She will be the first to
look it over for the 300th time and offer up her “want” for our “need.” And then convince me to do the same… She truly
personifies the pragmatic idealist.
Additionally, among the many unsuccessful candidates for Council during the last election, she alone took her loss as an
opportunity to seek more engagement, to learn more about the process, and continue to pursue service to her
community. She’s the only one of them before you tonight. She alone among them took responsibility on a City
Committee. She alone accepted leadership in a local political party. She’s the only one who became an elected
representative for ADEMs.
1
I know that tonight you have possibly several enormous choices to make regarding the composition of this Council. You
have been presented with many qualified candidates. Should your deliberations place a sitting member in the role of
Mayor, I want to encourage you to make a choice to replace the vacant Council seat with a candidate who represents
the inclusion of a vastly underrepresented constituency, namely the workers and renters who form the backbone of this
community. Select a member who understands the direct impact decision made in this room will have on them. Select
someone who has the passion to do what is morally right coupled with the practicality to do what is feasible and
sensible. Select someone who has proven their desire to serve their community.
Choose Robin Wolf.
With Respect,
Matthew J. Hanson
matthewhansonstage@gmail.com
2