Questions sought for Candidates to Santa Barbara Unified School Board

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Candidates for the Santa Barbara Unified School District Board of Education will gather virtually to discuss and debate the issues facing Santa Barbara schools, students and teachers, and community questions are encouraged.

Seven of the eight candidates running for the three open seats are expected to take part in the school board forum, organized and hosted by NewsChannel 3, on Monday October 5.

Incumbents Laura Capps, Jacqueline Reid and Wendy Sims-Moten will face challengers for their positions. All three have been endorsed by the Democratic Party of Santa Barbara County. Four years ago, they were the only three running. This year, five others are also vying for seats on the board.

Fellow Democrats Virginia Alvarez and Monie de Witt are also running in the non-partisan race. Conservative candidates Brian Campbell and Elrawd MacLearn are on the ballot, along with Sebastian Antonio Fernandez-Falcon, who is listed as a candidate but the NewsChannel has not been able to reach him for inclusion in the forum.

Several topics will be discussed. The hour-long forum will be posted here on the station website and mobile app. The program will also be scheduled to air on the NOW channel (Digital 3.2 and Cable 13). The schedule for the program on television is still pending.

If you have a question for the candidates, let us know! It could be asked Monday during the Santa Barbara Unified School Board forum.

OR fill out the form to ask your question: