Video: Watch the Paso Robles City Council candidate forum

Paso Robles voters got their first big look this week at the candidates vying for two seats on the City Council. The Paso Robles & Templeton Chamber of Commerce hosted a candidate forum Tuesday night for the contenders in District 1 and District 2, livestreaming the event on Facebook for residents who couldn't attend in person, the Paso Robles Daily News reported.

The forum was held at the SLO CTE Encore Center at 1030 Railroad St. in Paso Robles. According to the Chamber, the event gave candidates the opportunity to share their perspectives, priorities, and vision for the future of the community. A recording remains available for viewing on the Paso Robles & Templeton Chamber of Commerce's Facebook page.

Who's on the ballot

Two council districts are contested this cycle. In District 1, voters will choose between Kris Beal and Linda C. George. The District 2 race is a three-way contest among Chris Bausch, Michael Massey, and Robert Simoni.

Paso Robles elects its council members by district, meaning residents vote only for the candidate running to represent the geographic area where they live. That structure makes forums like Tuesday's especially valuable for voters: they offer a rare chance to hear all of the candidates for a given district side by side, answering the same questions in a public setting.

For a city that has navigated growth pressures, water and infrastructure debates, and the ongoing evolution of its wine-country economy in recent years, the stakes in down-ballot council races are real. Council members set local policy, approve budgets and development agreements, and shape how Paso Robles balances its small-town character with the demands of a regional tourism destination.

What the forum covered

The Chamber-organized format is a staple of local election season in North San Luis Obispo County, giving business leaders and residents alike a chance to hear directly from candidates before ballots are cast. The Chamber said the forum was designed to let candidates lay out their priorities and their vision for Paso Robles' future.

Tuesday's event focused on the council districts, but the election season isn't over yet — and neither is the forum series.

Mayoral forum set for Thursday

Residents who want to hear from the city's mayoral candidates won't have to wait long. The Chamber will host a second forum focused on the Paso Robles mayoral race at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at the same location — the SLO CTE Encore Center at 1030 Railroad St.

That event follows the same playbook: candidates answer questions, share platforms, and make their case to voters. Like the council forum, it's expected to draw residents, business owners, and community members weighing their choices ahead of November.

How to watch and what comes next

For those who missed Tuesday's livestream, the full video of the council candidate forum is available on the Paso Robles & Templeton Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. Watching the recording is one of the most efficient ways for voters to compare candidates in their own district — hearing how each answers questions about growth, public safety, infrastructure, and the local economy.

The timeline from here is straightforward. The general election is Nov. 3, meaning ballots will be arriving in mailboxes across Paso Robles well before election day under California's vote-by-mail system. Voters who want to participate should confirm their registration and district information through the San Luis Obispo County elections office.

With two council seats and the mayor's office on the ballot, this election will reshape a significant portion of Paso Robles' city leadership. The new council will inherit a full agenda of issues that have defined recent years in the city — from managing growth and housing to maintaining roads and infrastructure to supporting the tourism and wine industries that anchor the local economy.

Why it matters

Local races like these often draw less attention than state and national contests sharing the same ballot, but they arguably have a more direct effect on daily life in Paso Robles. The council decides how sales tax and other revenue get spent, which projects get prioritized, and how the city responds to the challenges and opportunities that come with being one of the Central Coast's fastest-evolving communities.

Tuesday's forum — and Thursday's mayoral forum — are among the few structured opportunities voters have to see candidates think on their feet, engage with community questions, and articulate where they stand. For residents of Districts 1 and 2, the recording on the Chamber's Facebook page is worth the time before ballots are filled out.

Election day is Nov. 3. Between now and then, the Chamber's forum series offers Paso Robles voters a front-row seat to the decisions that will shape their city for the next four years.