Mayor Ed Waage

After obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree at Reed College in Oregon, Waage earned a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Washington.  He spent decades at high-level public and private organizations with a focus on public safety.

Waage is a chemist by profession. He managed the corporate side of PG&E’s Diablo Canyon Power Plan Emergency Planning Program for several years before transferring to the plant.  He retired in 2000.

Before this, Waage managed the Nuclear Power Plant Emergency Planning Program and Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Program for the State of Illinois. He began his career as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Illinois State University.

Waage returned from retirement to work in Vienna, Austria at the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2005, the same year that the organization earned the Nobel Peace Prize.

As Mayor, Waage does his homework and uses the skills he honed during his career to ask tough questions while remaining respectful and firm. He supports the effort to fix up the downtown area and to improve traffic flow and parking.  He has been a leader in the effort to reduce wildfire hazards throughout the city and he has been a strong advocate for the improvement of the Price Historic Park. He has worked hard on efforts to increase our water supply with a recycling program while supporting conservation efforts.

Ed serves as Vice President and board member of the San Luis Obispo County Fire Safe Council, he serves as President and executive committee member of both the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments and the Regional Transit Authority, he serves a Chair of the Local Agency Formation Commission, and he serves on the board of the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution District and the the Cal ID board. He is past Chair of the League of California Cities Coastal Cities Group and continues to serve on its Leadership Committee. He is a member of the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Friends of Price House and the Pismo Beach Moose Club. He has served as Chair of the South County Advisory Committee of the YMCA along with serving on its Board of Directors and Executive Committee. He also served as secretary of the San Luis Obispo Emergency Communications Council, as a precinct captain for San Luis Obispo County Elections and as a volunteer for the American Red Cross.

Ed lives in Pismo Beach with his wife, Jeannie Nix, and has one daughter, Marianne.