San Luis Obispo County Supervisor sues County Clerk’s office

The race for San Luis Obispo County Supervisor has tightened again. As of Friday afternoon, incumbent Lynn Compton led by 62 votes over political newcomer Jimmy Paulding.

The numbers come after Compton filed a lawsuit against the County Clerk’s office on Friday morning. Compton accuses the Clerk’s office of violating elections code by counting certain votes after Wednesday’s 5 p.m deadline.

Her opponent’s campaign team is confused about this move.

” They advocated for this very process,” said Jimmy Paulding’s attorney, Tave Holland.

The votes Compton’s team is challenging are corrections of vote-by-mail ballot envelopes with mismatched signatures.

In a phone interview, County Clerk Recorder Tommy Gong explained his office will continue accepting those corrections.

Jimmy Paulding’s campaign team supports Gong’s plans.

“He’s exercising his discretion in order to count the most votes as possible. He’s looking to enfranchise people, and we believe that that’s the right approach. And I believe at this point, supervisor Compton’s campaign is looking to disenfranchise people,” Holland said.

In total, there were 122 ballots with mismatched signatures in District 4.
Compton is not challenging the ballots counted before Wednesday at 5 p.m.

A court hearing on this matter will take place on Monday at 8:30 a.m at the San Luis Obispo Superior Court.