I am proud to endorse Val Amparan for the Santa Barbara Unified School District Board of Education.
I had the privilege of serving alongside Val in leadership at the Junior League of Santa Barbara, where I saw firsthand her dedication to our community.
A devoted mother and tireless advocate for youth, Val pairs vision with the diligence to turn ambitious ideas into meaningful results for children and families.
As a mother and professional who values financial sustainability, I know responsible stewardship is about more than balancing budgets; it protects an organization’s ability to fulfill its mission.
Our schools are no different. Val recognizes that fiscal responsibility and student success go hand in hand. Her priorities of financial stability, academic achievement, transparency, and accountability reflect the thoughtful leadership our district needs.
Val also knows progress takes collaboration. She listens, builds relationships and brings people together around a shared purpose. I have seen her bring both skill and heart to this work, and I am confident she will do the same for students, educators and families.
Our children deserve excellent schools and responsible stewardship of public resources. Val Amparan has the heart to serve and the skills to lead. She has my enthusiastic endorsement.
Lindsay Cortina
Santa Barbara
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I’ve lived in Santa Barbara since 1975 and have worked on campaigns ranging from Walter Capps and Bill Wallace to Bob Lagomarsino.
Coming from New York, what I always admired here was that our local races were respectful. Candidates told us what they would bring to the table, not what was wrong with the other person.
This year’s Santa Barbara City Council District 4 race presents both approaches.
Devon Wardlow has stayed focused on what voters actually care about: housing, fire preparedness/neighborhood safety, a downtown that works, and a City Council that can get things done. She hasn’t taken the bait.
Genevieve Taft-Vazquez has gone the other way. I saw it firsthand when I attended one of her campaign events, where much of the focus was on tearing Devon down.
Her supporters have followed suit, including letters attacking Devon’s work history with clearly misleading information.
Meanwhile, voters have heard little about Taft-Vazquez’s own background: a career at Coca-Cola and, until January of this year, Goldman Sachs.
Her mailers state “No More Consultants,” yet she runs a corporate consulting firm based in Virginia. Taft-Vasquez has not identified her clients, but a deep dive found that her clients are the Veterans Affairs Department, Justice Department, Defense Logistics Agency, Energy Department, Agriculture Department and the Interior Department.
Negative campaigns don’t work in Santa Barbara, and they shouldn’t. When a candidate spends her energy tearing someone down, it tells you more about her than the person she’s attacking.
Devon has kept her eyes on the job. That’s the kind of leadership I want on the City Council.
Barry Schoer
Santa Barbara
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