On Sept. 16, the three candidates for the District 5 city council seat met at TV Santa Barbara for a debate that featured their answers to key policy questions — as well as their handling of individual queries about perceived weaknesses in their candidacies.
Co-sponsored by Newsmakers, the Santa Barbara Talks podcast and TVSB, the event brought together rivals Ian Baucke, Cevin Cathell and James Zurlinden. The latter two expressed opposition to rent control and deep concern about the financing and design of the State Street Master Plan, while the former staunchly backed rent stabilization and voiced confidence that money can be found to finance the $100 million price tag for the nine-block, no-cars “promenade.”
In addition to answering questions on familiar policy subjects, the candidates also responded to queries posed to each other. In a new feature, moderators Josh Molina and the genial host also crafted an individual question for each contender that they had not been asked before — which produced some of the most revelatory answers of the night.
Ian Baucke. The district representative for state Sen. Monique Limón was asked whether he would resign that post if elected, or collect taxpayer-funded salary and benefits across two government payrolls, to the tune of $150,000–$200,000: “So we’ll have to take a look at that … If I do keep that position, it would only be for two years before Pro Tem Limón is termed out of office … I do think it’s important that the voters voted for a charter amendment to make sure that the council is a paid position, more than just a small stipend, because we need folks who are really dedicated doing this work — and $60,000-something thousand dollars a year isn’t enough to live off in Santa Barbara and build a path towards homeownership.”
Cevin Cathell. The career film producer was asked to defend her lack of previous experience working on city boards or commissions. “So if I was building a political career, I would have gotten on those commissions, I would have foreseen that I needed to do this … The journalists can say, ‘Hey, you have no experience.’ Well, I do have experience. I have business experience, I have life experience, and I really care about this community … I’m a real person, I really care, and I’m not doing this to use this as a leapfrog to a different higher office. I have no ambitions beyond being a city council member representing District 5.”
James Zurlinden. The former chef and current financial services consultant was asked what it said about the appeal of his campaign that he has reported raising no money to date: “So we don’t need to spend huge amounts of money on campaigns. I think if we’re raising $100,000–$200,000, it’s irresponsible because we’re supposed to be here for the people. We’re representing the people. I started by loaning myself the money for my campaign. If I get it back, cool. If not, I’m not worried because I believe in myself … I’m putting my money out there because if I’m not putting my money and my time out there, why should anybody else believe me?”
You can watch the full 52:08 debate via YouTube below, or by clicking this link.
