Atascadero police and firefighters endorse Mike Avila for City Council
Mike Avila, a San Luis Obispo County planning commissioner and Atascadero City Council candidate. Photo courtesy of Mike Avila for City Council.
Police association and firefighters union back planning commissioner for Nov. 3 race
– The Atascadero Police Association and Atascadero Professional Firefighters, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3600, have endorsed Mike Avila for Atascadero City Council in the Nov. 3 election, according to a news release from his campaign.
Avila, a longtime Atascadero business owner and San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission member representing Supervisor District 5, is running for one of two council seats on the ballot. A-Town Daily News recently reported that the same firefighters union endorsed Council Member Susan Funk in her re-election bid.
In its endorsement letter, the firefighters union pointed to Avila’s focus on public safety and infrastructure, including fire, police, and roads. Zachariah Jackson, president of Local 3600, said Avila has shown a commitment to those core services.
The union also highlighted Avila’s willingness to engage on expanding fire and emergency response capability on Atascadero’s west side, including the future of Fire Station 3 at Del Rio and Ramona Road, and his support for competitive salaries to attract and retain public safety employees.
Sam Rodriguez, president of the Atascadero Police Association, said Avila has been a consistent supporter of the department and recognizes public safety as a fundamental responsibility of local government. The association also cited Avila’s experience building Avila Traffic Safety, founded in 2014, and his planning commission service.
Avila said he is honored by the support and listed neighborhood safety, west-side response times, and roads among his priorities. The campaign said he is also endorsed by Supervisors Heather Moreno and John Peschong, former Atascadero Mayor Tom O’Malley, and Council Members Mark Dariz, Seth Peek, and Heather Newsom, among others. County officials previously outlined offices and voting information for the Nov. 3 election.
For more information, visit www.mikeavila.org.
