Santa Barbara City Council Endorsement Press Release

This year’s election is a crucial one for the city of Santa Barbara. As a community, we have made tremendous progress in preserving our natural environment and extending opportunity for all residents. However, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. The recent rise in youth violence, the constant threat to open space, and the dire need for affordable housing are all challenges which must be met with creativity, responsibility and compassion. Many loud voices are now calling for a reversal of the progress we have made, often relying on misinformation and exaggeration. We believe, however, that we are on the right track as a city, and must continue to push for a more sustainable, equitable and livable Santa Barbara.

The Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Santa Barbara County has voted unanimously to endorse Brian Barnwell, Helene Schneider and Das Williams for reelection to the City Council. These three candidates are all community leaders who bring valuable skills and passions to local government. Helene Schneider has been a strong advocate for common-sense policies protecting our neighborhoods. We are grateful to Mr. Barnwell for his leadership on expanding after school programs and opportunities for young people. Das Williams has worked hard to balance environmental principles with community needs. All three of these candidates are open and honest in their outreach to citizens and residents. Their expertise more than qualifies them for reelection. Their dedication to our values has earned them the active support of the Democratic family.

In addition, the Committee strongly urges a “yes” vote on Measure A, a decision made without objection. In a democracy which is everywhere threatened by disengagement and apathy, our highest priority as a Party must be inclusion. If passed, Measure A is likely to boost voter participation in city elections by more than 70%. Opponents of the measure have argued that combining local elections with state and federal ballots will diminish the visibility of local issues. We believe the opposite. When people do not vote, their issues disappear in elections. Low voter turnout in local races means that issues of importance to large segments of our community, including renters, people of color and working families, are not addressed. For this reason, it has been a long-standing tactic of conservatives to depress voter participation. For Democrats, there is no such thing as a more or less “deserving” voter. Everyone’s voice must be heard.