Meet SLO City Manager Whitney MacDonald | Single Vote | Up+Adam
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Two seats. One vote. And a pretty big change to the way San Luis Obispo elects its City Council.
SLO City Manager Whitney McDonald joins Adam Montiel on Up+Adam to break down the new Citywide Single Vote system ahead of the November 3, 2026 election, why the city made the switch following a California Voting Rights Act challenge, and the one simple thing voters need to remember: vote for ONE City Council candidate, even though TWO will be elected. But this conversation goes well beyond the ballot box.
Whitney opens up about following in her mother's footsteps into public service, what it actually means to run a city with more than 480 employees and a $225 million budget, and the delicate balancing act of helping SLO grow without losing the character that makes people fall in love with it in the first place. From Cal Poly and community relationships to the controversy surrounding a beloved local tree, public records, her three cats, and even a little Restaurant Month brainstorming, it's a refreshingly candid look at the person behind one of the city's most important jobs. Whether you've lived in SLO your entire life, just moved here, or simply love a good conversation about community and leadership, this one's for you. And remember, when it comes to City Council on Election Day, one vote is all it takes.
Learn more:
- Citywide Single Vote: Official SLO Voter Information
- Meet Whitney McDonald: SLO City Manager
- City of San Luis Obispo: Official Website
- City of SLO Municipal Elections
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