Michael Massey

Our county and state is facing a critical housing shortage that affects residents at every income level, making the development of all housing types—starter homes, apartments, workforce housing, and senior living—an urgent priority. As demand continues to outpace supply, rising costs are pushing families, young professionals, and essential workers out of the community, threatening the local economy and social fabric. Without immediate action to increase housing availability, businesses will struggle to retain employees, commutes will grow longer, and opportunities for future generations will shrink. Housing is the most pressing issue in our area because it directly impacts affordability, economic stability, and the ability of people to live and thrive in the community they serve.

• I’d push for a two-year tax holiday to jumpstart construction, and set a cap on fees and taxes on new infill housing. This includes preventing the city from imposing exorbitant sales or transfer taxes on new infill housing. The simplest way to make new housing more affordable is to cut the taxes and fees that make it so expensive.

• Impose tight timelines for the city to issue permits. I would request that the city report the status of each permit on a public dashboard. I would require the city to process permits in less than 30 days, and work to improve those numbers each year. If local governments continually fail to meet permitting deadlines, home builders should be allowed to use properly qualified and licensed third-party planners and building inspectors to review permits instead. At the same time, the city should be adopting modern technology, such as AI tools, that would help speed up permit processing times.

• We need to supercharge the building of backyard cottages, by continuing to make them cheaper and easier to build. Building an ADU can be too expensive for many homeowners who are already struggling to pay the mortgage, and the city should provide a two-year tax holiday to support ADU construction and partner with the private sector to provide more accessible financing options.

A strong local economy means more than tourism and tasting rooms. District 2 needs diverse job opportunities that offer real career paths — not just seasonal work.

• I'll advocate for small business support, workforce development programs, and zoning policies that attract light industry and skilled trades. When our neighbors can earn a good living without leaving town, everyone benefits.

• My priorities: reducing permitting friction for small businesses, partnering with Cuesta College on workforce development, exploring light industrial zoning to diversify our economic base, and supporting local businesses through city purchasing policies.

Our roads, sidewalks, sports fields and public spaces need attention, and they need a plan, not just patches. The city faces real questions about how to maintain and improve the infrastructure District 2 depends on.

• I'll push for a transparent, prioritized capital improvement plan that puts neighborhood needs first and makes every dollar count.

• My priorities: a transparent, publicly accessible capital improvement plan, equitable road and sidewalk investment across all districts, honest fiscal planning, and prioritizing safety-critical repairs over cosmetic projects.

• Our kids and families deserve places to play, compete, and come together. As Paso Robles continues to grow, our sports facilities need to keep pace. I'm committed to expanding and improving our community's athletic fields, from soccer and baseball to multi-use spaces that serve leagues, rec programs, and weekend pickup games alike. Investing in sports infrastructure isn't just about fields and fences, it's about giving our young people somewhere to belong, keeping families active, and strengthening the bonds that make Paso Robles feel like home.

Government works best when it works in the open. Too often, local government operates on autopilot — and residents only find out about decisions after they've been made.

• I'll bring a commitment to fiscal transparency, accessible public meetings, and regular communication with District 2 residents. That means plain-language budget reports, consistent community updates, and a council member who actually shows up and listens.