About the Commission

Civil Service Commission Clerk
Human Resources Department
1055 Monterey Street, Suite D-250
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Phone: (805) 781-5959
Fax: (805) 781-1044
Email: [email protected] 

I am an attorney whose practice has emphasized representation of private and public employees in employment counseling and litigation. I have represented hundreds of clients in discrimination, harassment, whistle-blower claims and other wrongful termination litigation. As such, I met my clients at low points in their lives, when careers had been lost and the future was challenging. In achieving favorable resolutions for clients by way of verdicts and settlements, I was able to assist them in moving forward with their lives. I have also periodically represented private and public employers (but to a much lesser degree).

I grew up in the Los Angeles area and practiced law in Pasadena for many years, but my wife and I have always loved the central coast. We began vacationing in Cambria in the early nineties and decided to relocate to the central coast in 2002. After moving to SLO County, my practice continued to focus on representation of employees in employment litigation. I represented many public employees before various commissions, boards, and hearing officers, including the SLO Civil Service Commission. While I did not win every case before the Commission, I won my share and always felt that the Commissioners listened carefully to the evidence and tried to provide a fair playing field for both sides.

Since 2016, I have been working as a mediator, arbitrator, and workplace investigator. I have also served as a court appointed special master and discovery referee and I periodically serve as a Temporary Judge for the SLO County Superior Court.

When I am not working or serving as a Civil Service Commissioner, I love reading, walking/hiking, and writing mystery thriller books.  Four of the books that I have written are from the perspective of an employment litigator.

I am motivated to serve as a Civil Service Commissioner because of my extensive background as an employment attorney and because the Commission performs functions critical to public employees and the County. As an arbitrator and as a Civil Service Commissioner, my priority is to assure a fair hearing, in which both parties know that they have had the opportunity to be heard and know that all of the evidence will be fairly considered. I find it rewarding to be a member of the Civil Service Commission and I feel privileged to serve in this role.

John E.D. (Jed) Nicholson received his B.S.F.S. degree in International Politics (with a certificate in Asian Studies) from Georgetown University in 1990. He received his J.D. degree (cum laude) from University of
San Diego in 1997. From 1990 until 1994 he was a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy stationed in San Diego.

In 1997, Mr. Nicholson was admitted to practice in California and
joined the Los Angeles office of Ropers, Majeski, Kohn & Bentley, where he specialized in civil litigation. He moved to San Luis Obispo in 1999, where he was an associate at Sinsheimer, Schiebelhut & Baggett. In 2001 Mr. Nicholson left that firm to help found Adamski Moroski Madden Cumberland & Green LLP as an associate. In 2004 Mr. Nicholson became a partner in that firm.

In 2013, Mr. Nicholson started his own law office in Paso Robles.  Mr. Nicholson handles both trial and appellate litigation in federal and state courts. He represents clients in a wide range of disputes including all aspects of family law as well as civil litigation matters including breach of contract, insurance, business, real property, and construction.

Mr. Nicholson is a member of the State Bar of California and the San Luis Obispo County Bar Association.  He served on the San Luis Obispo County Bar Association's Board of Directors from 2013 until 2015.  He is admitted to practice before all the state and federal courts in California.

Mr. Nicholson has served on the San Luis Obispo County Civil Service Commission since January 2017 when he was appointed to the position by Supervisor John Peschong.  He is serving as President of the Commission for calendar year 2023.  

Mr. Nicholson has served on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County since 1999 and is a past Chairman of the agency.  He was a board member of the North County Boys and Girls Club from 2007 to 2019.  He has served as the President and Vice President of Legacy United Soccer Club.  He was a founder and serves as Secretary of the Shelby Sudbrink Memorial Scholarship Foundation.  He has been a member of the American Legion for over 25 years.  For more than 30 seasons he coached youth soccer, basketball and baseball in Templeton and is currently the assistant coach for the Templeton High School girl's junior varsity basketball team.

As professionals, we wear a lot of hats – parent, caregiver, volunteer. 
It can be challenging to take on more responsibility, but when I was approached to join the County of San Luis Obispo Civil Service Commission, I jumped at the opportunity because the work strongly resonates with my personal values. And, it has become one of my great pleasures to serve our County in this capacity for a few specific reasons.

First, through my career in the nonprofit sector, I have gained a deep appreciation for San Luis Obispo County employees and how their work directly benefits the safety and well-being our community enjoys. Much of the good work nonprofit organizations aspire to achieve would not be possible without the close partnership of the County and its employees. It’s important to me to help ensure that those same employees have the educational opportunities, supervisorial support, and fair compensation they need to be successful in their professional roles.

Second, writing and reviewing policies and protocols is something I’ve always enjoyed. I am firm believer in the importance of having clear, comprehensive, and thoughtful guidelines to govern organizational operations. Well-designed and consistently implemented policies lead to objectivity in resolving conflicts, healthier work cultures, widespread equitability, and greater financial efficiency. Everyone deserves the benefit of working for an organization with good policies.

Third, I welcome new challenges and opportunities to learn. Working alongside my fellow Civil Service Commissioners, each of whom offers unique personal perspectives and professional knowledge from a variety of industries, inspires me to reconsider many of my previous assumptions. I enjoy working together as a team to help the County find new solutions for developing and sustaining a diverse, high-performing workforce.

And, lastly, for a purely sentimental reason, serving as a Commissioner allows me to continue a legacy of public service in my family that started with my grandfather, a heavy equipment operator for the San Luis Obispo City Street Department (as it was known) for more than 30 years. No matter how many times I asked, he never grew tired of telling me about the day he used a tractor to rescue a woman and child from the big flood (he couldn’t swim!) of January 1973 (for which he received a citation from City Council). The pride he had in his public service career was palpable and inspired my father, a civil engineer and land developer, to build his own career through meaningful, mutual relationships with elected representatives and city, county and state employees throughout California. Now, in a small way, the County Civil Service Commission offers me an opportunity to follow in their footsteps. I am grateful to Supervisor Bruce Gibson for allowing me to serve in this capacity.

It is a great honor to be of service to County employees and the residents who benefit from their work. I hope I prove to serve them well.

I was born in the Southern California City of Norwalk. My father, grandfather, and two uncles were employees of the Los Angeles County Road Department. I learned at an early age that civil service work could be honorable and rewarding. My family moved to Atascadero in 1964 when I began eighth grade. My future wife, Diane, was a classmate. I played in the High School marching band with her and numerous rock and pop bands over the years. Now, I enjoy singing with Diane and playing instruments in our church choir.

I studied Mathematics at Cal Poly, earning a BS, and MA. I competed in an open civil service recruitment for Account Clerk at the County of San Luis Obispo. Scoring well, I was soon hired by the County Auditor-Controller and began my career as a civil servant. By 1980, we had started a family and wished to move back closer to our parents. I was hired as the Director of Finance at the City of Morro Bay, where I served until 1983, when the new County Auditor-Controller recruited me to become his Assistant. Later in 1990, I won my first election as Auditor-Controller. 

Now I am a retired CPA and 33-year SLO County employee. I was six times elected Auditor-Controller and served in that position for 22 years, the longest tenure of any Auditor-Controller in the history of our county. After retiring at the end of 2012, I ran for the part-time position of Atascadero City Treasurer and was elected in 2014, serving 10 years. I strongly support the role of the Civil Service Commission ensuring merit based hiring and fair treatment of all employees, which in turn provides great benefit to all County citizens.