Paso Robles Daily News | September 29, 2015 –
Former Deputy District Attorney and candidate for State Assembly, Jordan Cunningham, a Republican from Templeton, has received the endorsement of San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson.
A longtime leader on public safety issues for the region, Parkinson joined the San Luis Obispo Police Department nearly thirty-one years ago. Since that time, he has ascended through the ranks, serving at two police departments and working in various capacities, including: major crime investigator, field supervisor, and narcotics investigator. He led efforts to develop the first San Luis Obispo County Regional SWAT Team, and was twice awarded the “Distinguished Service Award.” Governor Brown appointed Parkinson to serve on the California Rehabilitation Oversight Board in 2012 and the Seismic Safety commission in 2014. First elected sheriff in 2010, he was re-elected in 2014 without opposition.
When asked about his endorsement, Parkinson said, “Jordan is a former prosecutor who understands what policies are needed to ensure public safety. He will make sure that our region continues to be a safe place to live, work, and raise a family. I’m supporting his campaign because of his proven leadership and experience and I am excited to have him in Sacramento representing us.”
Cunningham served as a Deputy District Attorney in San Luis Obispo County for a number of years, prosecuting a wide variety of crimes that included, fraud, assault, domestic violence, and environmental crimes. He has also been recognized by his colleagues, one of them being Dan Dow, the current District Attorney in San Luis Obispo County.
In a previous release by the campaign, Dow said, “Jordan’s priorities will be to keep our Central Coast safe while working hard to energize our business climate to ensure we continue to enjoy our high quality of life on the coast.”
Cunningham serves as an elected member of the Templeton Unified School Board, and is the President of the Central Coast Taxpayers Association. He lives in Templeton with his wife, Shauna, and their four children.
Cunningham will be running for the seat currently held by 35th district State Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian (R-Arroyo Grande), who is running for US Congress. Heidi Harmon (D-San Luis Obispo) is also running for Achadjian’s seat.