3 SLO County Clerk-Recorder Candidates Face Off at Forum

Candidates share views on voter ID, 2020 election integrity

Apr. 8, 2026 at 10:05pm

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A vibrant, abstract painting featuring a fractured, overlapping depiction of a ballot box or voting booth in shades of blue, green, and orange, conveying the high-stakes and high-energy nature of this local election.The heated debate over election integrity and voter ID requirements takes center stage in the race for San Luis Obispo County's top elections official.Arroyo Grande Today

The three candidates for San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder - incumbent Elaina Cano, Gaea Powell, and Vanessa Rozo - squared off at a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters. They discussed their experience, views on the 2020 election results, and positions on voter ID requirements.

Why it matters

The Clerk-Recorder oversees elections in SLO County, so the candidates' stances on key election issues like voter ID and election integrity are important for voters to understand ahead of the election.

The details

During the forum, the candidates discussed their qualifications and experience for the Clerk-Recorder role. Incumbent Elaina Cano touted her 4+ years of experience running the office, while challenger Gaea Powell highlighted her business consulting background. Vanessa Rozo emphasized her organizational skills and disaster relief experience. On the 2020 election, Cano said she was '100% sure' the results were valid due to extensive checks and balances. Rozo said she hadn't researched the issue much, while Powell questioned why the public had 'so much question' about the legitimacy of elections. On voter ID, Powell strongly supported new requirements like the SAVE Act, calling it 'unbelievable' that ID isn't already mandatory. Cano said she would follow any voter ID law but wouldn't take a political stance, while Rozo said ID could help identify people in her community.

  • The forum was held on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Elaina Cano

The incumbent San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder who has held the position since 2021.

Gaea Powell

A former Arroyo Grande mayoral candidate who currently faces a trial for eight felony charges of election and voter fraud.

Vanessa Rozo

A local business owner and paralegal from Grover Beach who also works as a disaster relief organizer with FEMA and Samaritan's Purse.

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What they’re saying

“We can bring this to high level of organization and bring back the integrity as well as the accountability and the transparency of this office.”

— Vanessa Rozo, Candidate for San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder

“I'm hired to go in and assess the situation, and re-engineer and then implement new systems, and I'm highly successful at that, and I'm very efficient at that.”

— Gaea Powell, Candidate for San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder

“There is absolutely no room for error. There is no learning on the job. There is no manual that you get when you come into this office. You have to be ready to uphold the law. You have to be ready to serve the public at the highest level of accountability on day one.”

— Elaina Cano, Incumbent San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder

What’s next

The candidates will continue campaigning ahead of the election, with voters set to choose the next San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder on June 4, 2026.

The takeaway

The Clerk-Recorder race in San Luis Obispo County has become a battleground for key election issues like voter ID and the integrity of the 2020 vote, with the candidates staking out divergent positions that will be important for voters to consider.