Should Avila Beach have an offshore wind port? What Harbor Commission candidates think
Ballots are on the way to San Luis Obispo County residents for the November election, and the question of offshore wind development in Avila Beach is a hot topic in the Port San Luis Harbor Commission race.
Three seats are open on the Port San Luis Harbor Commission, but only one race will appear on the ballot this November.
Two incumbents are running unopposed for the Division 1 and 4 seats on the commission. Those seats will not appear on the ballot and the candidates will be appointed to the commission.
Those candidates are Bill Barrow for Division 1 and Robert Vessely for Division 4.
Meanwhile, two candidates are competing for the Division 2 seat on the Harbor Commission: retired city executive Katie Lichtig, 63, and commercial fisherman Richard Rosario Scangarello Sr., 75.
To help as you make your decision, The Tribune has compiled a 2024 Election Voter Guide, meant to give easy access to some of the candidate’s basic facts and stances.
Here are responses from the Division 2 Harbor Commission candidates, organized by candidate and in alphabetical order.
Editor’s note: Some responses have been edited for length or clarity.
Katie Lichtig
Who are your top campaign contributors?
Janet Hollander, Joan Borger and Debra Wacker.
What is your vision for what Port San Luis should look like in five years? 10 years?
Port San Luis should look similar to today while evolving incrementally to better support and enhance current operations. This includes clean and safe beaches, commercial fishing, sport fishing and other recreational activities. Specifically, the Avila Pier will be rehabilitated and reopened, existing infrastructure will be better maintained, and the commission will develop, approve and implement a plan for the reuse of the Harford Pier, which was formerly used for a restaurant. In order to achieve this, I believe it is critical to address the district’s more than $8.5 million of deferred maintenance, balance the budget, ensure the highest level of public safety by supporting collaboration between the Harbor District, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office and Cal Fire, and attract and retain well-trained and motivated staff.
What do you believe is the most important issue facing the harbor district today, and what will you do to address it?
1. Balance the budget. This fiscal year, the Harbor Commission plans to spend $800,000 more than it will take in, and it faces more than $8.5 million of deferred maintenance. I bring experience and creativity to the difficult decisions ahead.
2. Rigorously assess the impact of a proposed wind energy operations and maintenance port. The process must be thorough, transparent and informed by experts, key stakeholders and public input. We must understand the scientific, financial, environmental and social impacts of a port in order to make a thoughtful decision.
3. Support existing facilities and activities. The Harbor Commission is duty bound to support commercial fishing, sport fishing and other coastal-dependent recreational activities like clean and safe beaches. Bringing the budget into balance and deciding whether to provide operational and maintenance support to wind energy must not distract from the Harbor Commission’s core responsibilities.
Do you support the development of an offshore wind operations and maintenance port in San Luis Bay? Why or why not?
It would be disrespectful to all Harbor District taxpayers if I were to state a position before the current feasibility study is completed and public hearings are held. Residents deserve to know as much information as possible before the Harbor Commission makes such a big decision.
In general, we should be open to change that improves the Harbor District’s overall financial health and bolsters current commercial and recreational activities.
I look forward to being on the Harbor Commission when the report is completed so I can contribute to a thoughtful debate about whether wind energy facilities will sufficiently benefit the Harbor District’s mission.
Will SLO County beach town get offshore wind port? Developer shares vision at tense meeting
Richard Rosario Scangarello Sr.
Who are your top campaign contributors?
Scangarello and his wife.
What is your vision for what Port San Luis should look like in five years? 10 years?
Develop the end of the pier, entice new business and most importantly prevent the wind farm project from changing the port. Port San Luis is one of the few remaining small commercial fishing ports in California and it needs to be protected.
What do you believe is the most important issue facing the Harbor District today, and what will you do to address it?
Offshore wind development
Do you support the development of an offshore wind operations and maintenance port in San Luis Bay? Why or why not?
No!
Meet the candidates
The League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County will moderate a forum for the harbor district candidates on Oct. 16 from 6 to 6:40 p.m.
The forum will be conducted by Zoom and livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@lwvsloco/streams.
People can submit questions for the forum to candidateforums@lwvslo.org by Oct. 8
