Meet Elaina Cano - Your SLO County Clerk-Recorder

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Elaina Cano is a dedicated wife, mother, and grandma who has devoted her life to public service. She and her husband, Marty, have raised their three sons in San Luis Obispo, where they have both served the community as public servants for over 27 years.  

Originally from Riverside, CA, Elaina moved to the Central Coast in 1992 after her fiancé, Marty, received a full-ride scholarship to play football at Cal Poly. Shortly after, they began their family. In 1994, Elaina started her career in public service by working for the City of San Luis Obispo Parks and Recreation Department, while in 1998, Marty joined the San Luis Obispo County Probation Department.  

From a young age, Elaina knew she wanted to pursue a career in public service, driven by her love for this country and admiration for those who lead at both national and local levels. Her first hands-on experience with SLO County elections came when she worked as a temporary employee in the City Clerk’s office. This role involved managing an election to determine the future of the Dalidio Marketplace Project. Elaina found it fascinating to see community members on both sides passionately advocating for their beliefs, while she participated in a non-partisan capacity, similar to her current role as County Clerk-Recorder. This experience highlighted the importance of understanding the State’s Constitution and California’s Government and Elections Code, as well as the significance of being impartial and unbiased. Elaina learned to set aside her personal feelings about the project, as she too was a resident of San Luis Obispo, to ensure a fair and honest election process.  

Since then, Elaina has had the honor of serving as the City Clerk for San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach, as the Elections Division Manager for Santa Barbara County, and currently as the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder. Over the past 17 years, she has been involved in conducting various SLO County elections, including municipal, water district, recalls, and countywide elections, providing her with a vast knowledge of the specific laws governing each election.  

The role of County Clerk-Recorder is often misunderstood, yet it is vital for maintaining the public's trust in local government and our core democratic process. In this capacity, Elaina serves as the Commissioner of Civil Marriages, County Clerk, County Recorder, and Registrar of Voters. Each interaction in these roles is very personal, and while the election process is what the public often associates with her office, the day-to-day responsibilities of the Clerk-Recorder are equally crucial to the residents of this County.  

Elaina is committed to making herself available to the community, providing opportunities for the public to observe the complex processes involved in conducting elections and addressing their questions and concerns. She aims to conduct SLO County elections with the highest level of transparency and integrity, hoping to regain the community's confidence as a whole.  

Elaina and Marty currently reside in the Village of Arroyo Grande, while their sons are enjoying their lives in Long Beach, Murray, Utah, and San Luis Obispo.