Waage leads newcomer Shadwell in Pismo Beach mayoral race

Incumbent and longtime city council member Ed Waage is leading in the race for mayor of Pismo Beach. With 100% of precincts reporting, Waage has a comfortable lead over newcomer, former news anchorman Dan Shadwell.

If Waage's lead holds when the vote is certified, this will be his third term as mayor.

Waage has served a total of eight years on the Pismo Beach City Council. He feels his track record as a councilman and mayor should earn him reelection.

"We have a brand new Shell Beach Streetscape," said Waage, while standing in the brand new Pier Plaza. "We've put a lot of money into the Pismo Preserve to provide recreation. We've been refurbished our parks. We have new playground equipment. We've been paving roads, but there's more to do."

Among his top priorities should he win is to build a new fire station on Bello Street.

"We desperately need a new fire station," said Waage. "The current station is woefully inadequate. With a new fire station, if you dial 911, the firefighters can get there about one minute quicker, and that could be the difference life and death."

Waage isn't the only candidate whose name is familiar names to city voters.

First time challenger Dan Shadwell, a longtime area news anchor, is running for political office for the very first time.

Although Shadwell has never held political office, he is well-known in Pismo Beach and throughout the Central Coast.

He has been a news anchor for both KCOY NewsChannel 12 and KSBY, as well as a frequent on-air contributor on KVEC radio.

Shadwell feels his news career is a valuable asset as he seeks to unseat someone with much more political experience.

"My background in television news, as a journalist, but also as a small business owner, means that I understand," said Shadwell. "I can help move forward with communication that allows everybody to have an opportunity to communicate and to have a voice in the decisions that governments make."

"I want to make sure Pismo Beach feels like home again to everybody," said Shadwell, who now works in real estate. "I want to make sure people have an opportunity to share their ideas and their feelings and I want them to be considered everytime there's a decision made by city government," said Shadwell.

Both Waage and Shadwell were invited to participate in our 2020 Voter Guide. To read their responses, click here.