District 3 Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg

Hello, I welcome you to the Third District of San Luis Obispo County!

Picture of Dawn Ortiz-Legg

As a member of the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors, I help lead policy and strategic direction for a county that spans 2,700 square miles of extraordinary coastline, working lands, and thriving communities. Our Board oversees land use, natural resource stewardship, economic development, public safety, social services, and public health across 26 agencies and a workforce of more than 2,800 public servants dedicated to serving our residents.

I proudly represent District Three, which includes portions of the City of San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, and the unincorporated communities of Avila Beach and Edna Valley. The district is home to critical regional assets, including the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport and the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, both vital to our economic vitality and energy security.

In addition to my role on the Board of Supervisors, I serve on the Air Pollution Control District, SLOCOG, RTA, the San Luis Sustainable Groundwater Basin, CenCal Health Board, 3CE, First 5, and LAFCO—collaborating across agencies to advance regional transportation, environmental sustainability, public health, and essential services.

I currently serve as President of the Latino Caucus of California Counties, representing Latino communities across California and working to strengthen equity, opportunity, and civic leadership statewide.

Before public office, I built a career in energy infrastructure and efficiency, helping develop nearly 2 gigawatts of utility-scale solar generation and overseeing distribution and transmission system maintenance for nearly a decade. That experience shaped my deep commitment to energy reliability, affordability, and climate responsibility. I am a strong advocate for carbon-free baseload power from Diablo Canyon as a cornerstone of California’s energy resilience and economic competitiveness.

Reliable energy, responsible land stewardship, and strategic public investment are essential to ensuring security, climate progress, and generational opportunity for all residents of San Luis Obispo County.

Now serving my second term (2024–2028), I remain committed to partnership—with nonprofits, community leaders, businesses, and residents—because durable solutions require collaboration. Together, we deliver measurable results for individuals, families, seniors, youth, and the future of our county.

Committees:

  • First 5 Chair- First 5 is an independent public agency established in 1998 through California's Proposition 10, leading collective efforts to support young children at both state and local levels by utilizing revenue from a 50-cent tax on tobacco products for dedicated funding of programs serving children from prenatal development through age five and their families.
  • 3CE Policy Board, Vice-Chair - Local communities established Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) to source clean and renewable electricity at competitive prices for customers throughout Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, and Santa Barbara counties. 3CE is locally controlled and governed by board members who represent each community served by the agency.
  • SLOCOG – San Luis Obispo Council of Governments
  • LAFCO – Local Agencies Formulation Commission
  • Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
  • SLO GSC – Ground Water Sustainability - Commission  
  • CenCal SB/SLO Regional Health Authority- Board of Directors
  • APCD Air Pollution Control District – Board Member

Education and Employment:

  • Master of International Public Policy; Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies, Bologna, Italy (mid-career)
  • B.A., Organizational Communication; Seaver College, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California
  • PG&E Energy Enterprise Laison - 2018-2020
  • First Solar Project Management and Public Affairs - 2010-2018
  • PTEC Corporation North American Sales and Marketing Manager - 1999-2010
  • International Trade and Regulatory Compliance Expert - 1986-2007

Community Involvement:

  • Parks CA Board of Directors – Current - As California State Parks’ statutory non-profit partner, we have a clear mission – to help strengthen parks and inspire all people to experience these extraordinary places.
  • Latino Caucus of California Counties, President – Current - The mission of the Latino Caucus of California Counties is to foster board and membership engagement, address issues, promote Latino leaders, add value to the California State Association of Counties, and collaborate effectively within the association and other areas for the benefit of all Californians.
  • Planning Commissioner, District 3, San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission
  • One Cool Earth, Board Member
  • Mechanics Bank (formerly Rabobank) Customer Relations Feedback Board
  • SLO International Film Festival, Board Member
  • Economic Vitality Corporation, Board of Directors and Energy Cluster Chair
  • San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, Transportation Advisory Committee appointee, 
    District 3
  • Planned Parenthood, Tri-Counties Board of Directors
  • Cuesta College Sustainability Center, Advisor