Endorsements & Testimonials

Endorsements

San Luis Obispo Tribune Editorial Board (9/16/24)

The Tribune Editorial Board said “it’s hard to imagine a first-time candidate better qualified for school board than Baltodano.”

“Baltodano has been well-organized, accessible and enthusiastic– exactly the traits she will bring to the school board.”

“This is an easy choice. Baltodano will be an asset to the district, rather than an embarrassment. The Tribune Editorial Board strongly endorses Erica Flores Baltodano for the San Luis Coastal School District Board of Trustees.”

Read the full endorsement here:
https://www.sanluisobispo.com/opinion/editorials/article292358879.html

Elected Leaders (Partial List)

Dawn Addis, Assemblymember, 30th District*
Bruce Gibson, District 2 Supervisor, County of San Luis Obispo*
Dawn Ortiz-Legg, District 3 Supervisor, County of San Luis Obispo*
Jimmy Paulding, District 4 Supervisor, County of San Luis Obispo*
Erica Stewart, Mayor, City of San Luis Obispo*
Heidi Harmon, Mayor Emeritus, City of San Luis Obispo*
Emily Francis, Councilmember, City of San Luis Obispo*
Jan Marx, Councilmember, City of San Luis Obispo*
Andy Pease, Councilmember, City of San Luis Obispo*
Michelle Shoresman, Councilmember, City of Luis Obispo*
Mike Boswell, Candidate, SLO City Council and Cal Poly Professor*
Jen Ford, Councilmember, City of Morro Bay*
Mark Buchman, Trustee, San Luis Coastal Unified School District*
Jim Quesenberry, Trustee, San Luis Costal Unified School District (Retired)*
Colleen Martin, Trustee, Lucia Mar Unified School District*
Andrea Naemi-Vergne, Trustee, Lucia Mar Unified School District*

Community Leaders (Partial List)

Phil Angel, President, San Luis Coastal Teacher’s Association
Emily Cappellano, Vice President, San Luis Coastal Teacher’s Association
Jill Bolster-White, Executive Director, Transitions-Mental Health Association*
Elizabeth “Biz” Steinberg, CEO, CAPSLO *
Rita Casaverde, Executive Director, Diversity Coalition of San Luis Obispo County*
Michael Boyer, Immediate Past CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast*
Martha Chivens, Founding Director, United Methodist Children’s Center, San Luis Obispo*
Maria Quen, President, SLCUSD District English Learners Advisory Committee*
Veronica Macias, Founder, Madrinas Para Latinas USA*
Patricia “Tricia” Gomez, Board Member, SLO Citizens for Good Government*
Stephanie Barclay, Esq., Executive Director, San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation*
Donna Jones, Immediate Past Executive Director, San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation*
Melissa Chabra, Esq., President, San Luis Obispo County Bar Association*
Kara Stein-Conaway, Esq., Past President, San Luis Obispo County Bar Association*
Dan Rivoire , Executive Director, Leadership SLO*
Sandi Sigurdson, Non-Profit Executive (Retired)
Lisa Sperow, J.D., Executive Director, Cal Poly’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic*
Katie Grainger, MPP, Founder, Public Safety SLO*
Betsey Nash, San Luis Obispo County Civil Service Commissioner (Retired)*
Jim Gardiner, Police Chief, City of San Luis Obispo (Retired)*
Marvin Southard, Director, Department of Mental Health, Los Angeles County (Retired)*

*Title and Organization Provided for Identification Purposes Only

Parents, Teachers, & Community Members (Partial List)

Jennifer Adams
Elizabeth Aebischer
Laura Albers
Erin Ambrose
Huc Ambrose
Adam Ancira-Corrigan
Kathy and Jim ApRoberts
Dr. Glen Aquino
Dr. Lisa Aquino
John Ashbaugh
Patrice Auyong
Renee Bajor
David Baldwin
Lauren Bandari
Chrys Barnes
Jack Bates
Dr. Mimi Batin
Jay Beck
Jenny Beck
Erik Benitez-Foster
Dan Bertozzi
Kim Bisheff
Suzan Boatman, Esq.
Lisa Boutelle-Lazzara, Esq.
Joe Bowling
Ashlea Boyer
Joseph Bowling
Kristin Bridgeford
Carrie Burgess
Nelly Caminada
Kathy Chechopoulos
Lauren Childs
Martha Chivens
Dave Christy
Brian Cody
Tammy Cody
Dawna Davies
Aaron de Bruijn
Leo DeTurris
Susan Devine
Mary Donnelly
Maria Legato
Eliana de Leon
Leo de Turris
Andrea Devitt
Kathryn Dickinson
Jim Dorf
Dulce Duenas
Lena Eagon
Jessica Estrada
Adam Frederick
Carole Levy Flores
Jose Luis Flores, LMFT
Dr. Ramona Friedman
Jenny Flores Foss
Lisa Funk
Rachel Gaunt
Elaine Gardiner
Lauren Giordano
Katie Graham
Dorothy Grant
Celeste Gray
Rhonda Greenelsh
Robin Haas
Brett Habar
Melissa Habar
Mark Harasym
Dona Hare
Adrienne Harris
Pat Harris
Walter Heath
Irv Hepner
Teresa Herb
Alison Herson
Mike Heyl
Bill Hoffman
Yvonne Hoffman
Erik Howell
Amy Howes, PhD, AMFT
Allen Hutkin, Esq.
Maria Hutkin, Esq.
Kim Infante
Amy Jenkins
Becky Jansen
Cindy Johnson
Jim Johnson
Julie Jones
Tim Jouet
Lisa Jouet
Angie Karsprzak
Caitlin Kawaki
Sadat Kawaki
Angie King
Emily Kohler
Clara Landeros
Jenny Lapidus
Maria Legato
Monica Linggi
Erich Marthaler
Tom Martin
Sarah Mauldin
Laura McCarley
Mark McCormick
Melissa McGann Babu, Esq.
Sara McGrath
Steve McGrath
Susan McKee
Maureen McLaughlin
Michael Malin
Carrie Miller
Vita Miller
Nicole Mullikin, Esq.
Laura Mullen
Patrick Mullen
Gabriela Munoz Gomez
Nihal Naccasha
Ziyad Naccasha
Krishna Patel
Erin Ogren
Kendra Paulding
Ann Dinh
Rigo Peña
Ashley Penn
John Phillips
Roz Phillips
Mary Louise Piccard
Patricia Ponce
Barry Price
Denise Puder
Steve Puder
Linda Quesenberry
Dr. Luke Rawlings
Adam Redding-Kaufman
Betsy Richman
Sara Roahen
Linda Robertson
Chelsea Ruiz
Jessica Saldo, Esq.
Lesley Santos
Santos Sarabia
Gabriella Schrader
Ken Schrader
Erica Schuetze
Pam Selna
Tim Selna
Grace Seng
Heidi Shaw
Marsha Shaw
Ivan Simon
Lisa Simon
Dr. Clint Slaughter
Laura Slaughter
Dave Smith
Phyllis Smith
Lisa Smith McClan
Jodie Steele
Melissa Sunata
Mark Swain
Taylor Taff
Lana Tabuenca
Mitch Terkildsen
Marta Torres
Carol Vitali
Ann Wassam
Nan Williamson
Kelda Wilson
Tom Wilson
Cal Wilvert
Rosemary Wilvert
Deneen Wolf
Jaclyn Wong
Kara Woodruff
Allison Woods
Matthew Woods
Jamie Woolf
Eric Wooton
Jackie Yeager
Ron Yukelson
Kelley Zucker

Testimonials

As a retired teacher I know that I can count on Erica to make our schools a priority. Teachers, students and the community at large will benefit greatly from Erica’s support and dedication.
— Retired SLCUSD Teacher

As a public high school English and history teacher for 40 years (29 at San Luis Obispo High School) and product of a California public education from kindergarten through college, I recognize the crucial necessity of electing a trustee who understands the challenges students and their teachers face daily and who possesses the intellect, experience, and determination to think innovatively, to build community, and to work diligently to find ways to help all of our children. That is why I am enthusiastically endorsing Erica Flores Baltodano for San Luis Obispo Unified School District School Board.
— Ivan Simon, Retired teacher

I have witnessed Erica’s commitment to students, education, and this community through her hands-on work with local non-profits, her dedicated leadership role with my alma mater, and through her compassionate work as a local attorney. As a mother of two elementary age children I strongly endorse Erica Flores Baltodano for School Board.
— Dorothy Grant, Esq.

I have had the pleasure of watching Erica shine as an involved parent committed to youth empowerment, increased STEM opportunities for all students, and safe, inclusive SLCUSD schools for more than 12 years. We share a passion for reducing mental health stigma and improving youth mental health treatment access for students and their families. Erica’s dedication to student wellbeing includes a focus on mental health that is timely and critical for student success. I am proud to support Erica Flores Baltodano for School Board.
— Amy Howes, M.S., Ph.D. AMFT

Erica is a dedicated and passionate individual who has consistently shown her commitment to serving the community and making a positive impact for our kids. One of the qualities I admire about Erica is her ability to listen and connect with people from all walks of life. She genuinely cares about the concerns and needs of the community and is always willing to go the extra mile to find solutions. Erica’s inclusive approach with the Hispanic/Latino community ensures that everyone’s voice is heard and considered, regardless of their background or circumstances. I endorse Erica Flores Baltodano for School Board and encourage you to support her too. Together, we can create a brighter future for our students and our community.
— Claudia Cabrera Olsen, District Parent

I am an elementary school teacher with over two decades of experience teaching in San Luis Coastal schools. Erica has volunteered in my fifth grade classroom to help students learn the intricacies of persuasive writing and has led students on annual field trips to see our government in action and meet with elected leaders and judges for years. She has been generous with her time, engaging a diversity of students at City Hall, the County Government building, and SLO County Superior Court to help them appreciate the importance of thinking critically, speaking clearly, and writing persuasively. She is humble, strong, educated, balanced, committed, thoughtful, trustworthy, dedicated, personable, polished, compassionate, and a genuinely good human being. Her legal background would be an asset to our Board of Trustees. I wholeheartedly endorse Erica Flores Baltodano for San Luis Coastal Unified School District School Board, Trustee Area 6.
— Erich Marthaler, 5th grade teacher

I am a licensed California attorney with fourteen years of law enforcement experience at municipal and educational institutions. I had the privilege of being a student when Erica Flores Baltodano taught her very first constitutional law class. Professor Baltodano delivered articulate lectures and engaged in thoughtful discussions, maintaining high expectations for herself and our class. She is a guileless leader who approaches challenges with a thirst for understanding and collaboration, organization, and panache. She is also deeply committed to school safety, which in my experience is intricately tied to student belonging and well-being. It is an honor to support my former professor and current mentor and colleague, Erica Flores Baltodano for School Board.
— Alison Herson, former student

As the former Campus Dean of the San Luis Obispo College of Law, I have worked closely with my successor, Erica Flores Baltodano. I must say Erica is one of the most humanitarian, visionary, intelligent, high-energy and hard-working people I have ever known. I endorse her without reservation for San Luis Coastal Unified School District School Board, Trustee Area 6.
— Jan Howell Marx

Good Schools are an essential foundation for economic development. Erica will be the kind of board member that will ensure that our schools are an attractive and effective part of our community.
— Dave Christy, Dean, Cal Poly’s Orfalea College of Business (Ret.)

I appreciate that [Mrs. Baltodano] taught us how [to be] persuasive. Thank you for inspiring me to become a lawyer to use persuasive writing in my job. I’m grateful that you came to tell us all about the story of the parks in Los Angeles [you helped create].
— W.B., Third Grade Student

Gracias por organizar nuestra excursión al centro de San Luis Obispo. Yo aprendí donde se sentaba [la alcaldesa]. . . . Mi favorita parte fue cuando fuimos al sala de justicia.
— A.M., Third Grade Student

Thank you for teaching me about persua[sive] skills. I learned that you have to dress nice, stand tall, and be serious if you do a presentation to the public. I’m happy that you helped make a park for kids. I’m going to persuade people to protect the environment.
— C.S., Third Grade Student

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