Former mayoral candidate charged with voter fraud, perjury
Prosecutors allege she falsely claimed residence inside city limits
– The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office has filed nine criminal charges against Gaea Edde Powell, 62, for alleged election fraud during the 2022 and 2024 Arroyo Grande mayoral election cycles.
The charges, filed on June 24, include voter registration fraud, filing a false declaration of candidacy, fraudulent voting, failure to file campaign finance reports, and perjury by declaration. Eight of the charges are felonies; one is a misdemeanor.
District Attorney Dan Dow announced the filing on June 26.
“The integrity of our electoral system depends on all participants following the law, and my office will not tolerate attempts to undermine that integrity through fraudulent conduct,” Dow said. “Ms. Powell’s alleged actions over multiple election cycles represent a serious breach of the public trust, and these charges demonstrate our commitment to holding accountable anyone who attempts to manipulate our election processes. We will always dutifully follow the evidence wherever it leads to ensure that the community can trust that there will be accountability without any political bias or motivation.”
According to the criminal complaint, Powell allegedly registered to vote on July 12, 2022, using an address within the city limits of Arroyo Grande where she did not reside. Investigators allege that Powell lived in a rural area outside the city limits and, therefore, was not legally eligible to vote or run for mayor in Arroyo Grande.
For the 2022 election cycle, Powell is accused of falsely declaring under penalty of perjury the location of her residence, submitting false nomination papers, failing to file required campaign finance reports, and voting in the Nov. 8 election despite being ineligible.
For the 2024 election cycle, the complaint alleges that Powell again falsely declared her residence, submitted false nomination papers, and voted in both the March 5 and Nov. 5 elections, where she was not legally entitled to vote.
Arraignment will be scheduled after Powell surrenders to the court, files a bond, or is booked on the criminal complaint. If convicted, sentencing may include probation, county jail confinement, or both.
The case is being prosecuted by the Public Integrity Unit of the District Attorney’s Office, which was established in 2015 to ensure that elected officials, public employees, and candidates for office are held accountable to applicable laws.
A criminal complaint contains charges that must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
