Arroyo Grande Mayor Candidates Speak Day Before Election Results Certified

Recent unofficial numbers show Jim Hill will be the new mayor of Arroyo Grande.

Hill had 3090 votes and Tony Ferrara came out with 2995 votes for the November 4th General Election.

Hill is the first write-in candidate to win the office in the city’s history and the second in San Luis Obispo County.

The San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder’s Office says a write-in has unseated an incumbent in a smaller race in San Simeon, years ago.

Tony Ferrara has been Arroyo Grande Mayor for 12 years.

Ferrara was the only name on the ballot for Arroyo Grande Mayor before Hill started campaigning, just five weeks prior to the elections.

An incident on July 3rd involving City Manager, Steve Adams and Community Development Director, Trish McClish led the Arroyo Grande Police Officer’s Association to give a vote of no-confidence to Ferrara; the group eventually backed Hill for Mayor.

Ferrara plans to formally resign from his position with The League of California Cities in the first week of December and also release an official statement within the coming weeks.

Hill will be sworn in as Arroyo Grande Mayor on December 1st.