Candidate for
State Senator; District 15; Democratic Party

Meet Peg Pinard

• Peg grew up in San Jose, went to local schools, and graduated with honors from Santa Clara University. She worked her way through college as a bookkeeper, Postal Service employee and waitress. Peg was the first one in her family to go to college.

• After college, Peg served two years in the Peace Corps in the Philippines as a math teacher. Upon returning to the U.S., she taught migrant farm workers in the High School Equivalency Program in San Luis Obispo.

• Peg started her own small business, dealing with issues of insurance, taxes, and payroll. She understands the needs of small business owners.

• Peg co-founded the Old Town Neighborhood Association and initiated the San Luis Obispo Cultural Heritage Committee to help preserve the city's old, historic neighborhoods. She also served on the City's Architectural Review Commission, Personnel Commission, and a number of other city and countywide commissions.

• First elected to the San Luis Obispo City Council in 1987, Peg was then elected Mayor in 1992. She was elected to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors in 1996 and was re-elected in 2000 by nearly 70% of the vote. She has never lost an election.

• It was under Peg's leadership that the communities of Avila Beach and Guadalupe were cleaned up from the massive contamination left by Unocal. This is one of the few instances where such high level contamination was actually cleaned up and residents were able to return to their homes. She also stood up for the residents when it came to making sure that the mitigation funds for the contamination went to restoring the community that was damaged.

• Peg's husband, Leo, is a Cal Poly professor. They have four grown children and two grandchildren. Peg holds a lifetime teaching credential and is also a licensed pilot.

• Peg works hard to make things happen and she stands up for the people she represents. Her belief that something is "the right thing to do" has been a very powerful motivator throughout her political and professional career.