Mayor Randy Rowse drops out of upcoming mayoral election and will finish current term

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Mayor Randy Rowse announced Monday afternoon that he will not be seeking reelection and will finish the remainder of his current term as Mayor of Santa Barbara.

Rowse shared a statement with Your News Channel on Monday:

It has been a pleasure and a great honor to serve the people of Santa Barbara over a nearly 14 year career on Council. While I’m proud of much we have done and mindful of how much there is ahead, I have made the decision to finish my career at the end of this term. My reasons are strictly personal and are not related to any issue or individual, it's just my time to move on. I will continue to focus on my office and now can do so without the distraction of running and maintaining a campaign simultaneously. I truly love this city and have enjoyed the opportunity afforded to me. I’m not going anywhere and plan to be engaged in city issues and events in the future.

Rowse later took questions outside of his city hall office.

He was surprised the news spread so fast after he visited the clerk's office.

He reiterated that he put a lot of thought into the decision to drop out of the race.

"I have been thinking about this for a long long time it is nothing to do with any subject, issue or personalities, it is a personal decision, I have some stuff in this stage of my life, I think it is time to move on and do something else," said Rowse.

He said his family would have supported him either way.

Rowse attended a library event on Monday with Congressman Salud Carbajal and said he will stay involved with the city he loves.

"I plan to stay engaged, I might be more effective on the outside than the inside and I really like the ability to help people from time to time, but I really think I can do that on the outside as well," said Rowse.

He recalled being on the council for 9 years and then taking a break before running for Mayor of Santa Barbara.

Rowse said after some negative campaign adds he received more campaign contribution.

He ended up raising about $315,000 for a job that pays $75,000 a year.

The former owner of the Paradise Cafe had a business owner's perspective.

"Being in business doesn't confer genius on anybody, but it gives you perspective and when you've signed the front of paychecks and when you've had to have the pressure of making payroll, from time to time, it's a different, a different perspective, it's something that you can't get otherwise and so very few of us really get to have that perspective."

The city's 51st mayor hasn't always been on the winning side of close controversial votes including votes to keep a portion of State Street closed or the 4-3 vote to create a Rent Stabilization ordinance, but he has high hopes for Santa Barbara.

He said he won't miss the long meetings, but he will miss being mayor when the time comes.

Due to the city's move to even year elections his 5th year as mayor comes to a close in 2027.

Rowse, 72, told Newsmakers with Jerry Roberts via zoom Monday evening that he will have time to write, sail and do other things septuagenarians do.

He mentioned he has had knee replacement and has been called "The Grumpy Old Walrus."

Interested candidates have until this July to file the paperwork with the City Clerk's Office in order to make the ballot.

With Mayor Rowse's departure, the race to be the next Mayor of Santa Barbara currently comes down to City Councilmembers Eric Friedman (District 5) and Kristin Sneddon (District 4) who are the only two candidates to file campaign finance paperwork for the now-open race confirmed the Santa Barbara City Clerk's Office Monday.

Friedman walked by Mayor Rowse during his comments outside city hall, but chose not to comment on the Mayor decision.

Rowse will try to get things done with the budget before his term comes to close.

The mayor plans to enjoy his role without the pressure of a campaign until the next mayor takes the oath of office.