A former mayoral candidate on the Central Coast is facing election fraud charges.
San Luis Obispo County prosecutors say Gaea Edde Powell is facing five counts, ranging from voter registration fraud to perjury.
They allege that Powell registered to vote in Arroyo Grande during the 2022 and 2024 election cycles but lived outside the city limits, in unincorporated San Luis Obispo County.
The 62-year-old Powell ran for mayor of Arroyo Grande in 2024, but lost.
District Attorney Dan Dow called the incident a serious breach of public trust. Powell hasn’t appeared in court yet to enter a plea on the charges.
