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New write-in candidate shakes up race for San Luis Obispo County DA

An attorney from Pismo Beach is entering the race for San Luis Obispo County District Attorney—as a write-in candidate.

On Thursday, Paul Phillips submitted the final signatures he needed to qualify as an official write-in candidate, according to County Clerk Julie Rodewald.

Up until now, the contentious race for SLO County DA has been just between just the two candidates who will appear on June's ballot, Assistant District Attorney Tim Covello, and Dan Dow, the Deputy District Attorney.

Phillips says he's entering the race at this late point because he doesn't like what he's seen so far coming from the candidates. 

"Never has the district attorney been in the condition it is in now, and that's not a positive thing," said Phillips. "If it were not in this condition, there would not be an election going on between candidates that have taken the positions that have been taken in this race."

Dow responded to our request for his reaction to Phillips' late entry into the DA Race with this quote:

"Mr. Phillips is a fine family man and local defense attorney who I respect. I welcome Mr. Phillips joining the public discussion about how we can improve the District Attorney's office."

Phillips says he'll use his network of family and friends to get the word out, and will rely heavily on social media, which he calls the new "political yard sign."