Midterm wave elections are nothing new, especially in a president’s second term.
But consequential wave elections are rare — and what happened Nov. 3 looks like one for the history books.
What does it mean for the country, for California and for the next two years? And what happens now?
California may be counting ballots for the foreseeable future, but you don’t have to wait for answers.
On Nov. 17, join us at the Lobero Theatre for a timely, provocative and entertaining conversation with one of America’s most respected political journalists, Mara Liasson.
The NPR national political correspondent and Fox News contributor will help us sort through the election’s winners, losers, surprises and consequences — and what they mean for the road ahead.
My friend Pete Peterson, dean of Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy, will lead the conversation, and I’ll be back as emcee for our fourth Spotlight Santa Barbara presentation.
Drinks and conversation begin at 6 p.m. on the Lobero’s esplanade, followed by the program at 7 p.m.
This is exactly the kind of conversation Spotlight Santa Barbara was created to bring to our community. Don’t miss your chance to be part of it.
Click here to reserve your seats now.
According to our WordPress analytics, Noozhawk drew an audience of 136,764 readers this past week.
What follows is my own take on the Top 5 stories you were reading over that period, as tracked by our Google Analytics.
As a reminder, this is my weekly opinion column, which I write in my civic capacity as Noozhawk’s publisher. Although it does have some news, it is not a news story.
Thank you for reading.
1. 2 Arrested in Connection with Death in Santa Barbara’s West Beach Neighborhood
Two Santa Barbara residents accused of concealing a dead man’s body inside a metal container wrapped in plastic have pleaded not guilty to criminal charges stemming from a disturbing discovery in the quiet West Beach neighborhood.
Our Evelyn Spence, who has been on this story from the start, reported that the dead man has been identified as 39-year-old Lawrence Matthew “Matt” Brennen of Santa Barbara.
According to Santa Barbara County Superior Court records, 45-year-old Jenica Ochoa and 43-year-old Kenneth Tompkins allegedly wrapped Brennen’s body in a bedroll, placed it inside a metal container and covered the container with plastic wrap.
Prosecutors allege the pair concealed the death from family members, friends and law enforcement.
Santa Barbara police discovered Brennen’s body early on Oct. 28 while executing a search warrant at an apartment in the 100 block of Los Aguajes Avenue, east of Bath Street, following a welfare check the previous night.
Ochoa and Tompkins, who reportedly lived in the same neatly kept apartment building as Brennen, face felony conspiracy charges, misdemeanor counts of concealing a death and second-strike enhancements.
Both defendants have previous felony convictions.
They were arraigned on Oct. 30 and are scheduled to return to court Nov. 30. Both have been released on bail.
In an obvious understatement, police Cmdr. Ben Ahrens described the investigation as “intricate.”
Authorities have not disclosed Brennen’s cause of death or the circumstances surrounding it.
Funeral services are pending but his family opened a SupportNow account to raise money for funeral expenses.
“My dad was always a free spirit and forever there when it mattered,” Mia Brennan wrote on the site.
“He was one with the oceans, always with a fishing pole in his truck and his kids in his heart …”
She added that “we will forever remember his terrible dad jokes and even worse food smoothies. But most of all, we will remember the pride that he held over his kids and siblings.”
The site had raised $1,200 as of Nov. 6. Click here to make an online donation.
2. Updated Count Shows Little Change in Supervisor, Santa Barbara Mayor Races
Florida may be able to process 8.3 million ballots and have complete election results about 2½ hours after polls close, but California is down for a count that takes … weeks. Yes, weeks.
It’s freaking ridiculous, but have you ridden the bullet train to nowhere recently?
In keeping with the once-Golden State’s leisurely pace, the Santa Barbara County Elections Office trickled out an update on Nov. 5 — two days after the polls closed — with still very incomplete results.
As our Giana Magnoli and Evelyn Spence reported, Santa Barbara mayoral candidate Eric Friedman and county Fifth District supervisor candidate Ricardo Valencia maintained narrow leads.
Friedman was ahead of fellow City Council member Kristen Sneddon by 312 votes, 10,701 to 10,389, in the four-way mayoral race.
Valencia, a Santa Maria-Bonita School District trustee and teacher, was ahead of Santa Maria City Councilwoman Maribel Aguilera in the Fifth District contest by 282 votes, 3,960 to 3,678.
The margins were even closer in Buellton, where City Council candidate Billy Silvola led Mark Williams by 16 votes, and in Lompoc, where City Councilman Victor Vega held a 31-vote advantage over challenger Sharlameigne Segovia.
Officials say countywide voter turnout reached 40.2%, with 100,523 ballots processed so far and another 61,745 awaiting counting, including 1,000 requiring signature verification.
The Elections Office managed to count just 10,981 additional ballots since very early on Nov. 4, but don’t worry: The next batch of results will be released a mere five days from now, on Nov. 10.
Click here for complete election results, or as complete as anyone in this county seems to know.
3. Petition Launches Against Katy Perry’s Proposed Youth Camp
A proposed youth camp backed by pop star Katy Perry is drawing fierce opposition from western Goleta Valley neighbors worried about wildfire evacuations, noise and increased traffic.
More than 360 residents have signed a petition opposing Gratitude Canyon, a 110-acre arts and nature camp proposed by Perry and her sister, Angela Lerche, at 183 Winchester Canyon Road.
The sisters’ Firework Foundation project would include cabins, recreational facilities, a swimming pool and recording studio, with most of the property preserved as open space.
“Our greatest concern is the permanent change in the intensity and character of activity that this project would introduce immediately adjacent to established residential neighborhoods,” the Winchester Commons Homeowners Association wrote in a letter of opposition.
“We are middle-class people who can’t afford to just pick up and move somewhere else because this happens,” Jen Lilienstein, one of the petitioners, told Pricila.
Supporters — including several local youth-related nonprofit organizations — say the camp would provide valuable opportunities for local kids, while project officials maintain that noise and fire safety concerns are being addressed.
Santa Barbara County is reviewing the application, with environmental studies expected next year.
4. Santa Barbara Financial ‘Scam Artist’ Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison
A convicted con artist who posed as a private investigator with law enforcement connections was sentenced Oct. 30 to six years and four months in state prison for defrauding two elderly victims of $136,000.
As our Rebecca Caraway reported, Lee Michael Harrison pleaded guilty to grand theft, witness dissuasion and extortion charges in Santa Barbara County Superior Court.
Prosecutors said Harrison promised to fast-track criminal investigations for people in legal trouble and provide services he couldn’t deliver.
“He was lying very successfully about his job, about his past, about his connections,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Anne Nudson told Rebecca.
Judge Pauline Maxwell ordered Harrison to pay approximately $133,000 in restitution, including nearly $38,000 for a fraudulent jewelry purchase he made with a bounced check at the Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito.
Prosecutors said Harrison allegedly continued scamming victims while awaiting trial and briefly fled custody.
5. BizHawk: Family-Owned Bangkok Thai Café Opens in Santa Barbara
A taste of Thailand has arrived on Upper State Street, where a Santa Barbara family has opened a new restaurant featuring authentic recipes, homemade ingredients and plenty of spice.
As our Rebecca Caraway reported, Sansanee Gaffney has opened Bangkok Thai Café at 3613 State St., next door to Baskin-Robbins, returning to her hometown after previously operating Bangkok Avenue in Thousand Oaks with her sister.
The menu features drunken noodles, spicy curries, wonton soup, and pork and shrimp rolls, all prepared from scratch by Gaffney’s brother, the head chef. Her parents also help in the kitchen.
The opening marks a fresh chapter for Gaffney, who underwent a mastectomy in July while battling breast cancer. Her mother also has been undergoing cancer treatment.
“I just want them to come try it and be a part of our family,” Gaffney said of her customers.
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Good Reads
Don’t miss these six stories:
» Toddler Hit By Car in Santa Barbara in ‘Early Stages of Recovery’ — South County editor Evelyn Spence has very encouraging news about 3-year-old Ava Stephenson, who was struck by a car in a Santa Barbara crosswalk on Oct. 18.
» Gavin Newsom’s Order Commuting Death Sentences Affects 3 Convicted in Santa Barbara County — Gov. Gavin Newsom clears out California’s death row on his way out the door because … Gavin “No Kings” Newsom. Evelyn has the details on three reprieved murderers from Santa Barbara County. Their four victims — Virginia Aceves, Nancy Croom, Ruby Gonzales and Sophia Torres — could not be reached for comment. Because they were all murdered.
» Driver Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor Vehicular Manslaughter for Crash with Teen Motorcyclist — North County editor Janene Scully follows up on the 2024 wreck that killed 18-year-old motorcyclist Mason Rohwedder.
» Laurie Jervis: Santa Barbara County Wine Industry Remains in My Sights — and Glass — Wine Country columnist Laurie Jervis, my friend and colleague for nearly 40 years, embarks on a new chapter in her life.
» Judy Foreman: Santa Barbara’s Couture Pattern Museum Celebrates Coco Chanel’s Legacy — 93108 columnist Judy Foreman fashions a report on the special Chanel in Vogue celebration at the Couture Pattern Museum.
» Santa Barbara Tennis Patrons Host Annual City Tennis Championship — Sports editor goes nets with his city tennis championship roundup.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Motorist Killed in Foggy Morning Crash on Highway 101 in Santa Barbara.
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What I’m Up To
Although I’m not looking for a free meal, I occasionally do have free time if you’re looking for a speaker for your club, group or organization and want to hear more about Noozhawk. Email me at wmacfadyen@noozhawk.com.
Nov. 17 — I’m emceeing our next Spotlight Santa Barbara event, this one featuring NPR national political correspondent and Fox News contributor Mara Liasson and moderated by my friend, Pete Peterson, dean of Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy. I’m guessing they’ll have lots to talk about with the Nov. 3 election. Click here to purchase tickets online.
Dec. 10 — Having not learned their lesson from last year, the Channel City Club has invited me back to emcee its Christmas brunch at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. I’m privileged to do this in honor of my close friend, the late Erin Graffy, the club’s longtime host.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Harsh: Hawk Diagnosed as ‘Too Fat to Fly’ After Overeating Chickens and Snoozing for Weeks on End.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
My week was crazy busy so my Instagram feed isn’t. Here’s a “club pour” of @sadiethealaskanmalamute to tide you over.
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Watch It
There’s something fishy about this.
