Mayor John Hamon announces he will not seek reelection

By Camille DeVaul · Tue Apr 21 2026

New candidates begin to emerge for November 2026 city election

PASO ROBLES — Mayor John Hamon announced during the Tuesday, April 7, Paso Robles City Council meeting that he will not seek reelection this fall, marking the end of more than four decades of public service.

Hamon made the announcement at the close of the meeting, stating that when his term concludes in December, he plans to spend more time with family, travel, and pursue new business interests.

"After careful thought and discussion with my family, I have decided that I am not going to be seeking reelection to the Paso Robles City Council this next year," Hamon shared. "Public service has always been one of the greatest honors of my life."

Hamon’s tenure in public service began in the mid-1980s as a volunteer fire captain. He later served on the city’s Planning Commission for four years before joining the Paso Robles City Council, where he has served for 20 years, including the last three as mayor following the passing of former Mayor Steve Martin.

During his time in office, Hamon emphasized thoughtful growth while preserving the city’s character. He highlighted accomplishments in public safety, infrastructure, housing, economic development, and overall quality of life.

"I believe I have honored my oath of office that I have taken many times over the years by working to leave our city in a better place than I found it," Hamon said. "It's been a great honor and privilege to work alongside my fellow colleagues on council, professional city staff ... the many dedicated community partners, and the volunteers that we have that help us do what we do."

Hamon added that a part of leadership is knowing when it's time to pass the torch and allow new voices and perspectives to step forward.

"Paso Robles has a strong future ahead, and I am confident that the next generation of leaders will continue to build on the foundation we have been working on," Hamon said.

The announcement was met with extended applause from those in attendance.

"Paso Robles has given my family so much," Hamon said. "One thing that will never change is my belief in Paso Robles and the Roblans who make this community so special. Serving this city has been one of the greatest opportunities of my life. I thank you all so much for allowing me to serve. It has been an amazing ride."

This fall, Paso Robles voters will elect a mayor and representatives for City Council Districts 1 and 2. The Consolidated General Election will be held on Nov. 3, with each position serving a four-year term.

As of now, William (Bill) Britton is the only candidate who has filed to run for mayor. Running as an independent, Britton brings a background in information technology and cybersecurity, including serving as former vice president of IT at Cal Poly. He is also a U.S. Air Force veteran and previously served on the Paso Robles Airport Commission, where he contributed to initiatives such as the Paso Robles Air & Space Port.

In District 1, incumbent Kris Beal has filed to run for reelection and is currently the sole candidate.

District 2, currently represented by Chris Bausch, has yet to see an announcement from the incumbent regarding reelection. However, two candidates — Michael Massey and Robert Simoni — have filed to run for the seat.

The deadline to submit completed nomination papers is Aug. 7.

The next Paso Robles City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, at 6 p.m. in the Norris Room at Centennial Park.