Jordan leaps out to solid lead in Santa Barbara City Council District 2 race

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Planning commissioner Mike Jordan is holding a strong lead in votes coming out of the gates in a Santa Barbara City Council race with an open seat for District 2.

This a never-before-seen election in Santa Barbara. Candidates will be waiting until later this week and possibly a few days longer to get the final results from voting officials in Los Angeles County. The ballots are being tabulated there in a cost savings move by the city.

About 16,500 ballots were mailed out in two districts. Jordan is going for a seat that will soon be vacated by Randy Rowse who is not able to run for re-election due to term limits.

The district covers a portion of the waterfront, the Mesa, the westside and over to where Las Positas meets Highway 101.

Jordan is familiar with the moving parts of city government with his planning position and said, "they were looking for somebody with experience,  that is used to working in the city structure but out in the community whether it is the business structure or non profits and looking for somebody to come in and play a little better in the sandbox than what they have been watching lately. " 

The position is non-partisan and Jordan was quick to point out he was with Democrats at his election night party with several Republicans joining in.  "I am a moderate and I am in a position where I am appealing to people who want to see some common sense, moderate type decision making and not off on the fringes."

If he wins the race, his seat as a planner would be open and steps would be taken to make an appointment. The winner in the council race will be sworn in to the City Council in January.

The second place candidate at this junction is Brian Campbell who has 791 votes compared to Jordan with 935. In third place is Teri Jori with 449 votes.

For complete voting results go to : https://www.lavote.net/home/voting-elections/current-elections/election-results/live-results