Meet Jim Dantona
About Me
I was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, went to high school in Simi Valley, and went on to receive my bachelor’s degree in government systems at Sacramento State University.
As a youth, my family instilled in me a deep belief in – and respect for – public service, doing the people’s business. My dad, who served inside government for decades, always taught me that government – when done right – can aid, defend and protect people, our government’s No. 1 job. This is why I got my degree in government and spent half my career inside government in service to that mission.
I spent more than a decade serving as Chief of Staff for four Los Angeles City Councilmembers, as a campaign manager for a candidate for Mayor of LA, nearly a decade as a Planning Commissioner for the city of Simi Valley, and as Chief Deputy CEO of the LA Community Redevelopment Agency, among other assignments.
Through my years in public service, I’ve been fortunate to have an incredible partner by my side, my wife of 26 years, Jennifer. She has always kept me grounded in our shared belief that government isn’t just about passing laws or legislation—it’s about making a real, positive difference in people’s lives, and it's about standing up for your community's values in the face of adversity. That belief has fueled both of us in our lifelong commitment to serving the people.
My mothers-in-law, Betsey Nash and Marci Powers, shared this community with me some 20 years ago, and I immediately embraced the culture and vitality of the people. The genuine goodness of our community shines through in our love of the natural environment, the arts and culture, and our passion for standing up for what’s right.
Locally, I jumped at the chance to serve as President and CEO of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce in January 2019. Since then, I’m proud to have helped lead the chamber’s opposition to the radical “Patten Map” redistricting of SLO County’s supervisorial district boundaries in 2022. This outrageous gerrymander – overturned in 2023 by a new majority on the Board of Supervisors – carved up our singular, unique coastal district into three separate pieces, diffusing our voting power and handing it over to voters as far away as Heritage Ranch and Oceano.
I continued the chamber’s decades-long opposition to offshore oil and gas development, and constantly remind our members and community at large to remain wary and vigilant of new attempts to exploit our coastal waters and onshore lands for oil and gas extraction. As well, I’m proud of the chamber’s longstanding economic vision that addresses housing, protection of the environment, and family-friendly workplace policies as the foundations of a healthy, thriving local economy.
This background and experience in business, government systems, processes and the democratic way (lower-case “d”) provide me with a deep understanding of local government. I’m ready to hit the ground running as a SLO County Supervisor and help us – our community – create the change we want.