Santa Barbara’s Mayoral Candidates Take Part in Public Forum
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara Independent hosted a Santa Barbara Mayoral Discussion at the Alhecama Theatre off Canon Perdidio St. on Wednesday evening.
Mayor Randy Rowse chose not to run for re-election, so Santa Barbara voters will be choosing a new mayor.
There are three candidates in the race including longtime councilmember Eric Friedman, who works at Trader Joe's, Mayor Pro-Tem Kristen Sneddon who teaches environmental geology and former school board member and First 5 Santa Barbara Executive Directer Wendy Sims-Moten.
Friedman and Sneddon are termed out in their current district seats.
During the 90-minute forum, moderated by SB Independent reporter Ryan P. Cruz, ICE turned out to be a hot topic.
"I trained with 805 Undocufund, SB Resiste, I am not as bold as some, but I do my patrols in the way that I can," said Sneddon.
"We don't want masked agents coming in and kidnapping families for no reason that is unacceptable it is morally wrong," said Friedman.
"It should be ingrained in our dna, how we are going to protect out community, it is immigrants today it was black lives matter," said Sims-Moten.
When asked about surveillance cameras they seemed to agree they impose on people's privacy.
When asked about e-bikes they agreed something needs to be done to enforce the e-bike safety.
When asked about State Street, they disagreed on the cost and time the city has committed to planning its future.
During closing comments Sim-Moten said as mayor she would start a dialogue with residents.
"Show how we care everyday not just in a minute of crisis," said Sims-Moten.
She also said she would be an inclusive leader.
"The way we treat our tourists is the way we should treat everybody everyday," she added.
Friedman talked about the importance of the library and library plaza he supported.
He also quoted Lady Bird Johnson.
"This wouldn't be an Eric Friedman debate without a quote by Lady Bird Johnson: 'Perhaps no place ino any community is so totally Democratic as the town library the only entrance requirement is interest,'" said Friedman.
Sneddon joked she wanted one of the moderators timers to keep people on track at city council meeting.
"The one thing I want you to hold onto when you go in the ballot box is Kristen Sneddon for a sustainable, and resilient Santa Barbara and I will not sell us out, I will fight for you , I will preserve what we love and I will move us forward," said Sneddon.
Following the forum the candidates helped put away the chairs and shared some take aways thoughts.f
"This leadership for me is hearing from you, and making sure we are a community that is safe and you are a tourist and special guest every day," said Sims-Moten.
"I think having all those broad topics, the hot topics really was how much we care about each of these issues and how they are interconnected," said Sneddon.
"We have a lot of work to do and we need to make sure we hit the ground running and look forward to being the next mayor of Santa Barbara to make that happen," said Friedman.
Students from Dos Pueblos High School's award-winning broadcast journalism program helped stream the forum for the Independent's YouTube Channel.
The candidates include current Santa Barbaran City Councilmember Eric Friedman, Santa Barbara Mayor Pro Tem Kristen Sneddon, and former Santa Barbara Unified School Board member Wendy Sims-Moten.
Current Mayor Randy Rowse chose not to run for re-election.
The candidates are being asked questions ranging from affordable housing to the State Street Master Plan and what the role of mayor should entail.
All three agreed listening to residents is key.
All of them are being asked to weigh in the recent passage of the city's first Rent Stabilization Ordinance that passed by a 4-3 vote.
Dos Pueblos High School students are working behind the scenes streaming the forum on YouTube.
For more information visit, https://youtu.be/KOQIlCKUs80
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