San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Jimmy Paulding has accused his opponent, Adam Verdin, of violating campaign finance laws. This accusation emerged following a post made by political consultant Tom Fulks on February 12, 2026, which claimed Verdin had breached local ordinances regarding campaign contributions. However, the assertion has been quickly challenged and deemed unfounded.
Fulks’s Facebook post alleged that Verdin was “thumbing his nose at the rules” by exceeding the county’s contribution limit of $5,900 for county office campaigns. Fulks pointed to Verdin’s latest campaign finance report, questioning who would enforce compliance with the law. “If it isn’t an error, who’s going to enforce the election rules here in SLO County? The state Fair Political Practices Commission? Sure, maybe, someday, in a year or three,” he commented.
Verdin’s campaign responded promptly. Chuck Bell, a retired attorney and chair of Verdin’s campaign committee, clarified the legal context surrounding the contribution limits. In a Facebook rebuttal, he stated, “Fulks is a moron,” explaining that the limits apply “per election,” allowing for two separate donations of $5,900—one for the primary and one for the general election. Bell emphasized that Verdin’s contributions were entirely legal.
In Verdin’s Form 460 campaign statement covering the period from July 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026, he reported a top donation of $11,800 from Covelop Inc., with the amount split between the primary and general elections. Such contributions are a common practice in political fundraising.
Paulding, an attorney himself, had previously advocated for lowering the contribution limit from $25,000 to the current $5,900 threshold in 2023. Despite Bell’s detailed explanation of the law, Paulding proceeded to file a formal complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission on February 15, 2026, alleging that Verdin had violated campaign finance regulations. He shared his complaint on Facebook, calling for “steady, principled leadership at the local level” and urging voters to support his campaign for integrity in elections.
While Paulding’s complaint is currently pending, it is anticipated that the state commission will not address the matter until after the election. This situation underscores the contentious nature of the ongoing campaign in San Luis Obispo County, where the stakes are high and the political climate is charged.
The unfolding events highlight the need for transparency and accountability in local governance, with both candidates vying for voter trust as the election approaches.
