Candidates Already Announce Bids for Capps’ Seat

Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider has formally entered the race to succeed retiring Congresswoman Lois Capps. In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Schneider said:

“Congresswoman Lois Capps is one of California’s most widely respected leaders. I have greatly admired her tenacity, drive and philosophy of always focusing on and putting the needs of the people of the 24th district first. Throughout her career, Congresswoman Capps has been a tireless champion throughout our district, whether it’s on issues of health, education, environmental protection, jobs or countless others.

I am running for Congress to get things done in Washington. We need more common sense and fewer political stalemates. During my tenure as mayor of the City of Santa Barbara, I have focused on working with a politically diverse City Council to find common ground on policies affecting our entire community, while steadfastly defending my core values of economic opportunity, environmental protection and prudent financial stewardship.

My priorities are simple. I plan to pursue an agenda that focuses on helping Californians reach their full potential by creating more good paying jobs, growing the middle class, advancing more progressive environmental protection policies, investing in our infrastructure and education, defending Medicare and Social Security, and ensuring equal pay for equal work for all Americans.”

————————————-

Santa Barbara Republican small businessman Justin Fareed, also officially announced a 2016 bid for California’s 24th Congressional District seat.

Fareed released the following statement:

“When I travel the district, I speak with Central Coast ranchers and small business owners who wonder if they will make it through another year of this drought, government overregulation and economic uncertainty. I meet college students who say they will graduate unsure of whether they will find a job. I hear from families who are concerned with the world they’re leaving to their children. We can and must do better, and we can start by changing who we send to Washington. It is my pledge to put America first and to secure the well-being of this and future generations, championing policies that will allow us to be free from debt, free to succeed economically and free from an intrusive government.

I am committed to serving the people of the Central Coast in Congress. We are deeply concerned about the continued dysfunction in Washington that neglects the serious challenges facing future generations of Californians, our communities and our country.

Too many politicians on both sides of the aisle are overly consumed by appeasing the demands of special interests and focusing only on their own political survival. Government has grown ever larger, more intrusive, complex and costly. Yet this same system is becoming less functional and far less effective in serving the needs of everyday people. Our freedoms and political influence are being eroded away. Mounting government debt threatens to crush the prosperity of future generations.

We need a long-range vision for America and people who are committed to forging solutions that achieve fiscal sustainability and security for our nation. The real choice in this election will not be between a Democrat or a Republican, but rather the progress that will move us forward in a positive direction or the status quo that most certainly will sacrifice it.”

————————————-

Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Salud Carbajal also threw his hat into the ring, and announced he will run for California’s 24th Congressional District seat. He released the following statement:

“Our region has been well represented by Congresswoman Capps for the past 17 years and I am privileged to have had the opportunity to work collaboratively with her to improve our local communities.

Following her recent announcement that she would not run for reelection, I have decided to run for Congress to be an effective voice in Washington for the issues that people care about on the Central Coast – creating jobs, educational opportunity for all, preserving essential safety net services, improving our infrastructure and protecting the environment.

I have a proven track record of working in a bipartisan way to get results on these issues in my service as County Supervisor and want to bring the same effective and collaborative approach to Congress.”