Santa Barbara Studies New Way to Elect City Leaders

Some Santa Barbara city leaders may be elected from their own neighborhoods in the future. The plan is being studied.

The public will get a chance to discuss the idea of having four council members elected in four different districts.

The remaining two council members and the mayor would come from within the entire city boundary.

Right now, the mayor and all council members are chosen from the entire city population.

Supporters claim the new way of doing it would give residents more representation, especially in minority neighborhoods.

A public meeting is expected to be scheduled in the next few weeks.

Any changes would have to be approved by the voters in an upcoming election.