DOING THE SIDESTEP

Candidates for Supervisor and Sheriff Face Off Without a Shot Fired

In an informal election forum Tuesday evening, supervisor and sheriff
candidates discussed everything from medical marijuana and the prevalence of
feral skunks in the county to airport runway extension and big-box stores
outside city limits.

But the prevalence of issues didn't correspond to a high number of positions
taken.

In the two-hour-long forum, candidates took middle-of-the-road stances on
most issues, often deferring questions about their stands by saying the
issue needed to be looked into more or simply by agreeing with the previous
candidate's answer.

Sheriff candidates Jim Gardiner and Pat Hedges, who have both been involved
in law enforcement for more than two decades, both talked about the need for
sheriff substations in the South County.

They discussed the need for preventative solutions to teen violence and drug
use. While Hedges emphasized the need for more facilities for inmates with
mental health problems, Gardiner reiterated his National Rifle Association
endorsement several times during the forum. Both emphasized the need for
concealed weapons permits for citizen protection, with Hedges suggesting
that carrying arms is a necessary crime precaution for those on long road
trips.

"Someone who might drive from Cambria to San Francisco at midnight should
have access to it [a concealed weapon]," Hedges said.

In the South County District 4 match, candidate Orrin Cocks, a math
professor at Allan Hancock College, filled his commentary with a barrage of
questions about opponent Katcho Achadjian's qualifications. Achadjian, a Cal
Poly graduate who put himself through school and now owns several gas
stations in SLO County, set off the attacks by announcing in his opening
statement that he is opposed to offshore oil drilling.

"This is a conflict of interest," Cocks said at the beginning of his
introduction. "He [Achadjian] says he's opposed to offshore oil drilling,
but he makes his living off owning gas stations. Can he stand up to
businesses that keep him in business? His most notable policy experience has
been fighting for a permit to allow alcohol and gambling at the county
fair."

Achadjian smiled during these challenges to his campaign, not defending
himself but also not engaging in any counterattacks.

Cathy Novak and Shirley Bianchi, who are competing for the District 2
supervisor seat, steered away from personal attacks, forcusing largely on
the issues and their personal histories in SLO County.

Bianchi currently serves on the county Planning Commission and Novak is the
mayor of Morro Bay.

"I believe that land-use issues are vitally involved in every problem this
community has," said Bianchi, who deferred comment on the issue of big-box
stores because she will be voting on Alex Madonna's Eagle Hardware proposal
later this month.

On land-use issues, Novak pointed to her success in attaining $3.2 million
in federal funding to dredge Morro Bay.

Both sheriff and supervisorial candidates fielded questions on streamlining
budgets.

No one directly answered the question of if and where they thought budgets
could be decreased. Bianchi said she would have to look into where the money
was being spent; Gardiner said he would like to have town hall meetings to
discuss that; and Archadjian pointed out that if he was not versed in
streamlining, he wouldn't have survived as a small-business man.

Again, with the medical marijuana issue, most of the candidates sidestepped
taking a direct standpoint on whether or not they supported it. Bianchi
announced that she had voted for it; Cocks stated that he was opposed to it;
and the other candidates said they would uphold the law, if that what voters
had chosen.

The candidates seemed unanimously worried about what extension of the SLO
County Airport runway would do to the surrounding communities. But most
candidates followed their concerns with statements about the importance of
being competitive as a city.

"Why does it cost more to fly from SLO to L.A. than it does from L.A. to New
York?" Achadjian asked.

The most lively part of the evening revolved around a discussion of gun
control, which appeared to have no real opponents in the panel.

"I am pleased with the lack of gun control," said Cocks. "I think it's an
interesting notion for the bad guys to think that woman out there may have
something hidden under her coat."

Bianchi proudly related the story of her daughter's peace officer firing
range test.

"She scored 100 percent," said Bianchi. "Someone at the range said, 'Your
dad should be proud of you. He taught you well.' And she said, 'No, my mom
did."

Lea Aschkenas is a New Times staff writer.

Checked-by: Rolf Ernst