Final tally shows Santa Barbara City Council victories for Gutierrez and Jordan

election ballot vote by mail SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — KEYT

November 15, 2019 6:31 pm

Published November 14, 2019 11:15 am

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The final tally for the Santa Barbara City Council election released Thursday shows a victory for Alejandra Gutierrez in District 1 (East Side and downtown) and Mike Jordan in District 2 (Mesa, upper Westside.).

Gutierrez had 963 votes, while incumbent Jason Dominguez had 955. Cruzito Herrera Cruz was in third with 100 votes

Jordan took home 1509 votes. In second place was Brian Campbell with 1128, followed by Teri Joy with 759 votes. Tavis Boise had 375 votes, and Luis Esparza had 305 votes.

Santa Barbara contracted with the Los Angeles County Elections office for the election. The election was held November 5, but ballots were counted in Norwalk, which lengthened the time it took to tally the votes.

"I really excited I am so honored to represent this district. I have been working here for 20 years. I grew up here. It's home," said Gutierrez.

The election means Santa Barbara will have a new look to the city council in January.

Incumbent Jason Dominguez will leave his post as will councilmember Randy Rowse who has reached his term limits.

Gutierrez she said her long time supporters felt she would give them new hope.

"The fact that I am able to provide hope to other people. I planted that seed and to see the momentum in the community - some of the parents telling me 'congratulatIons we did it.' It is very fulfilling," said Gutierrez.

For outgoing councilman Jason Dominguez, he says it's a changing time for the city with many unresolved issues. He said voters have spoken and he will focus on his state assembly campaign. That election is in March.

"There's lots of ideas out there and lots of opinions and you are never going to have a continued consensus. I think people are frustrated with the city and want to see change," Dominguez.

"I am going to continue to fight for the underdog like I have my entire career," he said. "People are asking me to run for mayor but I think my expertise is more suited for statewide issues having been a teacher and a prosecutor for several years."

There's another Gutierrez on the city council already - Oscar Gutierrez who congratulated Alejandra minutes after the results came out.

"I am really excited Oscar came to congratulate me and he gave me a hug and he gave me this pin. (A city council pin.) " she said.

It's a reality check with a lot to learn in a short amount of time

Something I have learned in my career is to ask a lot of questions to talk to people who have been in that position before," said Gutierrez. "You have fresh new blood that excited to create change that wants to listen to the constituents. "

Previous coverage:

Article Topic Follows: Local Politics

Jump to comments ↓

Lindsay Zuchelli