Shannon Kessler

Shannon Kessler earned a high school diploma from Sky High School. Her career experience includes working as a real estate broker.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a mother, business owner, and longtime Central Coast children's and parental rights advocate running to bring practical, common-sense leadership and fairness to Sacramento.

Happily married for 38 years, my husband and I have raised our family on the Central Coast and enjoy surfing and hiking with our adult children in the community we proudly call home. As a sixth-generation California agriculture family member, my values are shaped by family, service, and community involvement, and I strongly believe in giving back and personal responsibility.

My public service is rooted in hands-on local involvement. I served as an Arroyo Grande Parks and Recreation Commissioner, PTA President, and coordinator of a local Moms Walking club, working directly with families, schools, and neighbors to solve real community and children’s needs.

As a co-owner of a local family construction company and real estate business, I understand the challenges facing small businesses, housing, and working families. As a lifelong supporter of agriculture and a 4-H leader, I developed a deep appreciation for hard work, accountability, and stewardship—values that define the Central Coast.

As a former athlete and mother of a female athlete, I founded Save and Girls' Sports Central Coast and have been speaking up for girls' and women's rights to safety and fairness in sports locally, at the state level, and on my vibrant social media channels.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Reduce the Cost of Living & Focus on the Local Economy

The cost of living on the Central Coast is outpacing wages, putting pressure on working families, seniors, and young people trying to stay in the community they love. Rising costs for gas, groceries, utilities, and housing are making it harder to get by.​

I will fight fraud, waste and abuse to ease the burden on working families and small businesses, reduce unnecessary red tape, and encourage local economic growth. Sacramento leaders must stay connected to real communities and focus on practical solutions that lower everyday costs, not policies that unintentionally make life more expensive.Public Safety, Homelessness & Mental Health

Everyone deserves to feel safe in their neighborhoods, and local businesses deserve to operate without fear. Retail theft and repeat crime hurt workers, families, and small business owners alike. We need smart, balanced public safety policies that hold offenders accountable while focusing resources where they actually reduce crime.

Homelessness is a human crisis, not a talking point. Many individuals on the streets struggle with mental health and substance abuse, and simply cycling people through ineffective programs isn’t working. The state must ensure taxpayer-funded programs are accountable, coordinated, and focused on real outcomes—including treatment, housing stability.Environment, Energy & the Central Coast

My priority is protecting the Central Coast’s environment while preserving agriculture and our economic health. I support responsible environmental protection, including limits on existing offshore drilling, sensible energy production and thoughtful land stewardship.

At the same time, families are struggling with rising energy costs so I believe California must continue to produce energy here in our state and invest in modern energy infrastructure and diverse energy solutions that deliver cleaner, more reliable, and more affordable power. I will stand up for consumers and demand accountability to energy companies and our government to stop raising prices and taxes year after year.

​

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education & Student Well-Being

As a mother and longtime school volunteer, I believe every student deserves a safe, respectful learning environment where they can focus on learning and growing.​

I support fairness, safety, and privacy for all students, and believe parents should have a strong voice in education policy decisions. Schools should be places that bring communities together—not divide them—and policies should always put students’ well-being first.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Abraham Lincoln for his diligent and selfless serivce to his country.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity and accountability.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To represent their constituency.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

American Independent Party of California

Reform California

Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Monterey Co.

Sonja Shaw, Candidate for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction and President of Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Education

Mike Fuller, Lucia Mar Unified School District Trustee

California Republican Party

San Luis Obispo County Republican Party

Monterey County Republican Party

Santa Cruz County Republican Party

Santa Barbara County Republican Party

Monterey County Republican Assembly

Eilene Pham, Lucia Mar Unified School District Trustee

Mario Estrada

Jennifer Weber

Adriana Gonzales

Joe & Betsy Pollon – Arroyo Grande

Max Schell

David Hurwitz

Steve Ankeney

Marty O'Malley

Konstantin Glazzomitsky