Watch: Ready, Set, Run - Handicapping the Races for SB Mayor and Council with the Candidates Primed at the Starting Line
With 88 days left before the election, News-Press Editor Josh Molina joins the genial host for a railbird's view of the contests to decide the majority at City Hall - and shape Santa Barbara's future.
Friday was the filing deadline to run for Santa Barbara mayor and city council, so as we await City Clerk Sarah Gorman’s announcement of the final ballot lineup, Newsmakers TV presents a starting-line view of the races and rivals.
It’s the most important city election in a decade, with a majority of the seven council seats on the ballot, including the citywide vote to succeed Mayor Randy Rowse and neighborhood district contests to replace three termed-out incumbents.
As a political matter, the current council in recent months has decided a series of consequential matters on narrow 4-to-3 votes, and voters now will decide the balance of power at City Hall from an array of candidates with sharp differences on issues like rent control, the future of State Street and the city’s $750 million budget.
The races:
Mayor. Both first elected in 2017, council members Kristen Sneddon, endorsed by the Democratic Party, and Eric Friedman, a close ally of the departing Rowse, have been on opposite sides of recent big debates and votes. Voters across the city will choose between her more liberal political stances and his more moderate views, with former school board president Wendy Sims-Moten a wild card in the race.
District 4. The upscale district — including the Upper East, Riviera, San Roque and other nearby neighborhoods — features an intriguing four-way scrum: retired tech executive Monte Wilson and Planning Commissioner Devon Wardlow, both of whom have been campaigning for months and are sitting on $50,000 each; ex-council member Jason Dominguez, who still has plenty of name recognition; and corporate consultant and first-time candidate Genevieve Taft-Vazquez, who could surprise.
District 5. Ian Baucke, a 27-year-old aide to state Senate leader Monique Limón, touts big City Hall connections and the Democratic Party’s endorsement, but retired film producer Cevin Cathell may appeal to homeowners who dominate the voter rolls in the district — which includes Upper State Street and nearby neighborhoods — and look askance at the current lefty tilt of City Hall. That argument is echoed by former chef James Zurlinden, campaigning as a blue-collar tribune of common sense.
District 6. School board member, former planning commissioner and rent control supporter Gabe Escobedo is the early favorite among downtown voters, who overwhelmingly are renters, but realtor and first-time candidate Alexander Stoeber is engaging in making the case that his market-driven ideas would benefit them more.
With 88 days to go before the Nov. 3 election, Josh and Jerry also announce the first big mayoral forum of the campaign, to be held on Sept. 3, with plans also in the works for district forums, to be recorded and televised in partnership with TVSB.
All this and more, right here, right now, on Newsmakers TV.
Check out our railbird handicap of all the races via YouTube below or by clicking this link. Our podcast is available on Apple, Spotify, or on SoundCloud. TVSB, Channel 17, airs the show every weeknight at 5 p.m. and at 9 a.m. on weekends. KCSB, 91.9 FM, broadcasts the program at 5:30 p.m. on weekends.
Image: Runners at the starting line for the 2014 U.S. Air Force Marathon (arpc.afrc.af.mil).