Santa Barbara City Council District 1 & 3 incumbents and challengers take part in forum
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – With Election Day a little more than two months away candidates are making time for forums and debates.
Newsmakers, the Santa Barbara Talks podcast and TVSB sponsored Santa Barbara City Council District One and Three debates at a candidates forum that took place at the Community Environmental Council Hub on State Street.
District One incumbent Alejandra Gutierrez and her challenger Wendy Santamaria debated first, followed by a District Three debate between incumbent Oscar Gutierrez and his challenger Tony Becerra.
Jerry Roberts and Josh Molina moderated both debates.
"We have 4 strong Mexican American candidates running for office and we have never really seen that before and this forum is going to be an opportunity to showcase what they think and the differences they have with so many of the issues in Santa Barbara," said Molina.
One of the hot topics is housing.
"Rents are too high and there's not enough housing to go around and the state is pushing all these mandates now that will clearly challenge Santa Barbara's historic aesthetic and design," said Roberts.
First District incumbent Alejandra Gutierrez and challenger Wendy Santamaria don't see eye to eye on all the Eastside or citywide issues including the 1/2 cent sales tax measure on the November ballot.
Alejandra Gutierrez is opposed to it but helped create a collective list of priorities in case it passes.
Santamaria said she favors the 1/2 cent sales tax because she believes it will save services and protect city jobs.
In District Three, covering the Westside, incumbent Oscar Gutierrez said he favors the 1/2 sales tax measure known as Measure I.
He wants the city to benefit before the state and county try to pass similar measures on future ballots.
His challenger Tony Bacerra disagrees.
They also don't agree on Prop 33 which could lift restrictions on rent control statewide.
Santamaria supports it, Alejandra Gutierrez opposes it.
During final questions the incumbent was asked to explain missing meetings.
She said she was ill and missed many meetings due to COVID.
They were also asked about rent stabilization, the State Street promenade, hotels and housing projects.
Cruzito Herrera Cruz said he is also running for the District 1 seat on the Santa Barbara City Council.
He said he was not sure why he wasn't included in the forum.
Cruz said his focus is on economic and social revitalization.
For a link to the event visit https://www.tvsantabarbara.org/live/
