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Jim Reed enters second bid for Paso Robles City Council 

Local businessman hopes to change direction of city

Jim Reed Paso Robles City Council candidate

Jim Reed is seeking a seat on the Paso Robles City Council.

After losing his first bid for Paso Robles City Council in 2012, Jim Reed is back at it. As one of five people vying for two open council seats currently held by John Hamon and Ed Steinbeck, Reed faces Hamon, Steve Gregory, current Mayor Duane Picanco, and Pamela Avila in his bid for a seat on the council.

“I ran for City Council in 2012 when I saw that the incumbents were not representing the interests of the citizens of Paso Robles. After that election and all the issues we pointed out, I hoped they would respond to us,” Reed wrote on his website, www.jimreed4paso.com. “I have seen no change. So, I am running again to change the direction that our city is taking.”

Reed moved to Paso Robles 30 years ago with his wife, Karen, after deciding they didn’t want to start a family in Los Angeles, where they lived at the time. They often visited the Central Coast, enjoyed boating at Lake Nacimiento, and soon relocated to Paso Robles. The couple has one adult son.

Reed started his working career as a journeyman contractor after completing a four-year apprenticeship program. He went on to become a contractor, until a boating accident resulted in Reed being unable to work hard labor. In his 30s Reed attended Cuesta College to learn, he said, how to use his head instead of his back — he now works as a computer draftsman.

Over the years Reed has worked closely with the city as a subcontractor, giving him the opportunity to be “up close and personal” with what’s going on.

“Somebody’s got to do something,” Reed said. “If the ones that are in [office] aren’t, maybe I can do something.”

Reed has been involved in his son’s schools, the PTA, soccer and in the community as a business person. While he isn’t currently a member of any local organization, Reed said he has helped out in various capacities around town and has drawn plans at no cost over the years.

“I’ve done a lot of stuff — I didn’t do it with the idea I could hang a plaque,” Reed said.

If elected, Reed said that the first thing he’d do is “have the city council start factoring the residents/citizens into the equation when making decisions.” He said many of his friends and neighbors have said they feel the city is unfriendly to them and treat them as though they are “invisible,” so he wants to change that.

“Maybe I can help steer some decisions that are being made, maybe steer it back so the citizens have some representation — they don’t have any right now,” Reed said.

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