New candidates join Paso Robles mayor, City Council races

Voters just north of Atascadero will face a full ballot in November, as the races for Paso Robles mayor and City Council have drawn complete slates of candidates — contests that resonate well beyond the Paso Robles city limits.

New Times SLO reported that Faith Frankel and Chris Rogalla have joined William Britton in the race to succeed Mayor John Hamon, who announced in April that he would not seek reelection after roughly two decades in local government. In the 1st District, incumbent Councilmember Kris Beal faces Linda "Pinky" George, who previously ran for the seat in 2024.

For Atascadero residents, the outcome of Paso Robles' November election carries real weight. Paso Robles is the largest city in North County and a key partner with Atascadero on regional issues ranging from groundwater management in the Paso Robles Basin to Highway 101 corridor improvements, homelessness services, and economic development along the 46 West wine corridor. Who sits on the Paso Robles dais helps shape regional priorities that both cities share.

A Three-Way Race for Mayor

With Hamon stepping aside, the mayor's office is open for the first time in years, drawing three candidates with distinct backgrounds.

William Britton, a former Cal Poly vice president, was the first to declare. Earlier this year, Britton told New Times his campaign centers on three priorities: "fix what's broken," "protect what matters," and "build an economic future" — a platform focused on infrastructure, public safety, and expanding the city's economic base.

Chris Rogalla, a local business owner, said his decision to enter the race grew out of questions he heard repeatedly from residents about city spending and deteriorating infrastructure.

"Where is our money going? Why are our roads falling further behind? And are we building a Paso Robles where families can thrive and our kids can one day choose to build lives of their own?" Rogalla wrote in his candidate statement.

Rogalla's campaign centers on roads and infrastructure, keeping families in the community long-term, and increasing financial accountability and transparency. "As a business owner, I know resources are limited," he said. "Every dollar has to have a purpose, priorities have to be set, and results matter. Taxpayers deserve that same discipline from their city government."

Faith Frankel, a family physician and small-business owner, emphasizes many of the same infrastructure concerns while also pointing to water, public safety, and economic development. A lifelong Paso Robles resident, Frankel grew up on Frankel Ranch, where her family developed what is now Sculpterra Winery and Sculpture Garden.

"As a family physician, I have spent my career listening to people, solving problems, and caring for the families of Paso Robles," Frankel wrote. "As a small-business owner and member of a local agricultural family, I understand the challenges facing our businesses, workers, and residents."

Frankel said she wants the city to improve roads, protect its water resources, encourage higher-paying local jobs, and pursue growth without sacrificing Paso Robles' character. "I believe we can strengthen our local economy while restoring the budget for supporting our Main Street Businesses," she said.

A Rematch in the 1st District

The 1st District contest is a rematch of sorts. George is making another bid for the seat after receiving 17 percent of the vote in her 2024 campaign, according to New Times.

George moved to Paso Robles in 2019 following a 30-year career in state government that included work with Caltrans and the California Department of Social Services. Her background also includes labor and legislative advocacy on disability rights, worker protections, and other issues. Since arriving in Paso Robles, she has engaged in local debates over homelessness, public safety, cannabis regulations, food trucks, and government accountability.

"I know how government works and how to stand in the gap between government and the people," George wrote in her candidate statement. "I will ask the tough questions, challenge the status quo, and insist on transparency and accountability."

Beal, the incumbent, is seeking reelection after identifying housing affordability, parks, and access to local government among her priorities earlier this year.

Familiar Themes Dominate the Conversation

The newly complete slates round out a Paso Robles election focused on familiar questions: infrastructure, city spending, economic development, and how the city should manage continued growth.

Roads are a recurring flashpoint. Candidates in both races have pointed to pavement conditions and deferred maintenance as evidence that the city's budget priorities need reexamination — an issue North County residents across the 805 region know well, as Atascadero, Paso Robles, and other municipalities grapple with aging streets built during earlier boom cycles.

Water also remains a defining issue. Frankel's emphasis on protecting water resources speaks to long-running concerns about the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, which supplies much of North County — including agricultural operations and rural residents in the unincorporated areas between the two cities. Water policy decisions made in Paso Robles City Hall frequently ripple outward to neighboring communities.

Economic development is the third leg of the stool. Britton's "build an economic future" framing and Frankel's call for higher-paying local jobs and support for Main Street businesses reflect concerns about whether young families can afford to stay in North County — a question Atascadero residents ask with equal urgency.

What Comes Next

With the candidate field now set, the campaigns head into the stretch run before the November general election. Voters can expect candidate forums, endorsements, and mailed campaign statements in the coming weeks as the contenders make their cases.

New Times reported that it reached out to Rogalla and George but did not receive a response before press time.

For Atascadero residents, the race is worth watching closely — not only because Paso Robles is a regional partner on transportation, water, and economic issues, but because the election's themes of infrastructure repair, fiscal accountability, and managed growth mirror conversations happening in city halls across the 805. The results in November will help determine who negotiates for North County at the regional table for the next four years.