Noozhawk invited the five candidates running for two four-year seats on the Montecito Fire Protection District Board of Directors to answer questions about why they are running and local issues.

Two candidates — Jason Copus and Jenelle Williams — already serve on the board. Copus was appointed to fill a board seat in March, and Williams was appointed to a seat in August.

The other three candidates who qualified for the November ballot are Penelope Bianchi, Peter Taffae and Jeffrey Gittler.

Read the answers submitted by the five candidates below.

Check out additional Noozhawk elections coverage here.

Jason Copus

Question: Why are you running for a position on the Montecito Fire Protection District Board of Directors?

Copus: I was appointed to the board in March, and I’m running to continue serving a community that has been home to me for my entire life. In my time on the board, I’ve seen how much thoughtful planning and responsible oversight matter to the Fire District’s ability to serve Montecito.

I want to support the firefighters and paramedics who protect us, help the district prepare for future challenges, and make decisions that earn the public’s trust.

Question: What is your background in the Montecito area?

Copus: I was born and raised in the Santa Barbara area, and Montecito has long been part of my family’s life and work. I’m the director of Sales and Marketing at the Montecito Inn, one of my family’s businesses, and I’ve spent more than 20 years working with local residents, visitors, and businesses. My wife, Zoe, and I are raising our three children here. I’ve also served on the Coast Village Association Board since 2018.

Those connections give me a personal stake in Montecito’s safety and long-term well-being.

Question: What relevant experience would you bring to the board?

Copus: I bring experience from emergency response, business, community service, and my current service as an appointed director. As a volunteer with Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue, I’ve responded to trail rescues alongside Montecito Fire firefighters. That work has given me firsthand respect for the training, coordination, and resources effective response requires.

I also served for 10 years in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, including three years as a flotilla commander. In business and on local boards, I’ve worked with budgets, public communication, and decisions that require balancing immediate needs with long-term responsibilities.

Question: What do you believe are the most important issues facing residents and businesses within the fire district, and how would you address them?

Copus: Wildfire risk, evacuation readiness, and the district’s ability to respond to emergencies remain central concerns. Residents and businesses need clear information before a crisis, and firefighters and paramedics need the training, equipment, staffing, and facilities to do their jobs safely and effectively.

As a board member, I will continue to focus on long-term planning, public education, strong partnerships with neighboring agencies, and careful oversight of district resources. Those decisions must account for both the service our community expects and the cost of sustaining it.

Question: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Copus: It is an honor to serve as an appointed director. I take seriously the trust that comes with this position, and I’m committed to listening, asking hard questions, and making decisions in the best interests of the community. I would be grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Montecito and for the votes of district residents this November.

More about my background and priorities is available at copus4mfd.com.

Jenelle Williams

Question: Why are you running for a position on the Montecito Fire Protection District Board of Directors?

Williams: I am running because being part of a community means contributing to it. We chose Montecito to raise our three children because of its character, people, and quality of life, and I feel a responsibility to put my professional experience to work protecting what makes it that way.

For more than 20 years, I have worked in public finance and fiscal oversight with school districts, special districts, and county government. Early in my career, as an auditor with the Santa Barbara County Auditor-Controller’s office, I served as the Montecito Fire Protection District’s financial auditor. That experience gave me firsthand appreciation for the leadership and professionalism behind the district’s work. 

I was appointed to the board in 2026, and I am asking voters to let me continue. The district is well run. My job is not to fix it, but to help it stay that way as demands change. That means looking beyond the immediate decision: where we are today, where we need to be tomorrow, and what it will take to get there.

Protecting life and property is my highest priority, and I want to help ensure our firefighters have what they need to continue doing that work exceptionally well.

Question: What is your background in the Montecito area?

Williams: Santa Barbara has been home for more than 20 years. I came here for college at UCSB, and over the years Montecito became the place our family grew to love. When we were ready to raise our children, we chose it deliberately to put down roots.

My connection is also professional. More than a decade ago, I served as Chief Business Official for a Montecito school, and earlier in my career I served as the Montecito Fire Protection District’s financial auditor. Our family is now active in the school community and local youth sports, which has given me a perspective beyond the numbers — an understanding of what matters to families here, as a parent and neighbor.

Living here through major local emergencies has given me a deeper appreciation for the people who respond when our community needs them most. Seeing how quickly conditions can change, and how much we rely on these professionals, has made the sense of safety they provide especially meaningful to my family.

Question: What relevant experience would you bring to the board?

Williams: I bring more than 20 years of experience in public finance, fiscal oversight, and government operations. As a District Financial Advisor, I provide fiscal oversight for school districts throughout Santa Barbara County, helping leadership navigate financial, operational, legislative, and long-term planning decisions. Since 2016, I have also served on the Santa Barbara County Treasury Oversight Committee, which oversees a pooled public investment portfolio approaching $3 billion.

My work requires understanding how budgets, systems, people, and priorities come together to support reliable public services. I apply that same perspective to the whole organization while considering the community it serves — its mission, financial position, strategic initiatives, and capacity to deliver. Public services are constantly evolving, so decisions need to be evaluated with both today and the long term in mind. When resources and priorities align, service improves.

I also bring experience working across local government, identifying opportunities to share expertise and resources while strengthening systems and controls. Effective governance requires seeing the tradeoffs, understanding the broader picture, and supporting decisions that serve the organization’s mission.

My leadership philosophy is straightforward: set high expectations, remove barriers, provide the tools needed to succeed, and hold people accountable. 

Question: What do you believe are the most important issues facing residents and businesses within the fire district, and how would you address them?

Williams: The district must maintain excellence in an ever-changing environment. That means being prepared for the emergency in front of us while anticipating the risks, regulations, and challenges ahead.

A consequential change facing Montecito property owners is California’s evolving Zone 0 requirements. The state is establishing an ember-resistant zone within five feet of structures, and the board will play an important role in shaping how the District responds and how those requirements are implemented locally. 

Residents have practical questions and expect clear answers. The district should proactively reassess and build upon its existing defensible-space inspection and education programs, provide guidance, and develop reasonable approaches to code enforcement that support residents and encourage community-wide compliance. Those policies should be transparent, tailored to Montecito’s risks and needs, and balanced with the other services residents and businesses expect. 

Where there is no established playbook, we should create one.

Preparedness and prevention should be deliberate: identify risks, fund what reduces them, and measure results. Our people remain our greatest asset. They need leadership that sets high expectations, listens, removes barriers, and provides the tools, training, equipment, and support to stay at the cutting edge.

Question: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I have tremendous respect for the professionals who serve this community, and I believe good leadership gives capable people the trust, support, and resources to excel.

Montecito has high standards, and I believe our Fire District should reflect them. The board’s role is to sustain and enable that excellence through sound governance, thoughtful oversight, and long-term planning. That means continually evaluating whether we are delivering as well as we can, recognizing progress, and adapting when something can be done better. We should never assume yesterday’s solution is sufficient for tomorrow’s challenge.

I am prepared to be an engaged, thoughtful, and accountable board member who helps sustain that standard, and to leave the district stronger than I found it — for the people who serve here today and those who will depend on it tomorrow.

Peter Taffae

Question: Why are you running for a position on the Montecito Fire Protection District Board of Directors?

Taffae: I am very fortunate to be living in a community such as Montecito. When I arrived here over two years ago, I was welcomed and made to feel as if belong. Montecito is my forever home and I want to participate in keeping it safe for the next five, 10, and 20 years. I saw first hand what happened in Pacific Palisades and although I avoided tragedy, many of my friends did not. I want to make sure nothing like that happens to us.

I believe my skill set, dedication and willingness to ask the tough questions will bring value to the board. I do not aspire for higher office; I will not accept compensation. I will be committed to deliver on the trust the voters have in me. My work skills are not currently present on the board so I feel I can fill an important void and will have a positive impact.

I have over 40 years of risk management, strategic planning, financial proficiency and commitment to make long term decisions for the tax payers of Montecito. Since I sold my company four years ago and retired, I have found giving back and doing my best to help others to be very rewarding and has enhanced my life.

Question: What is your background in the Montecito area?

Taffae: Originally, I had a home in Santa Monica and thought I would treat myself to a condo in the Santa Barbara area for a year. I was married in Santa Barbara and have a lot of friends here, so I felt it would be a terrific place to spend some time. After three weeks, I knew this was my new home and now live full time in Montecito. I brought my mom with me, who is 99 years old and I take care of her.

I joined the Human Rights Watch executive committee because I care about the injustices being committed in the world. The peers on the committee are people I got to know and respect. I also joined the Casa Dorinda board of directors to learn about the senior living business and be associated with a highly respected senior living community. Here too, I have had the privilege to interact with my fellow trustees and the excellent senior management. The facility’s sincerity in caring for its residents touched me. I currently serve on the Marketing (admissions) and Operations committees. 

In Los Angeles, I continue my position on the board of the Simon Wiesenthal Center/Museum of Tolerance. I was asked to join the CEO search committee four years ago after the founder/CEO retired after serving 46 years. I sit on the Audit and Governance committees. I recently termed out, after 10 years on my alma mater, Ithaca College board of trustees, where I served as co-chair on the Audit and Buildings & Grounds committees for 10 years.

Question: What relevant experience would you bring to the board?

Taffae: The current Montecito Fire Department is doing an excellent job! Our new fire chief is the right person at the right time. I have gotten to know Chief Brian Fallon and almost all of the staff and we are lucky to have such passionate, qualified and skilled firefighters and staff. Morale is high.

In 2000, I started an insurance brokering and underwriting company in a two bedroom/two bath rent controlled apartment. We became nationally recognized experts in directors’ and officers’ liability and employment practices, winning numerous awards for innovation and expertise. I created with my colleagues three insurance products that did not exist at the time and became in high demand. One of the early products was cyber insurance, when the Internet was in its early stages.

In 2023, after 23 years, six days a week, I sold to Goldman Sachs ’ private equity and stayed on for two years to assist with the transition. I was intimately involved with all aspects of the operation as its founder, CEO and sole shareholder. 

My objective will be to be the director who thinks 20 years down the road, both financially and in terms of proactive protection. The board’s mission is oversight, not day-to-day. We need to focus on fire suppression, emergency medical services (which I believe will increase due to the aging community), rescue, wildfire prevention, code enforcement, hazardous-material emergencies, and disaster response.

My whole business career was focused on risks. I naturally think worst-case scenarios, where are we vulnerable? I also have proficiency with financials, both managing and developing long-term needs. Growing up with dyslexia has trained me to be creative and think outside the box. I envision both long-term and short-term goals. I try to envision where I want to go and then figure out the way to get to the “destination.” My sense of humor and humility help me get along with people who have different beliefs. I’d rather have a win-win outcome than 100% my way. 

Question: What do you believe are the most important issues facing residents and businesses within the fire district and how would you address them?

Taffae: Most residents think of Montecito as a small town, but with 20 square miles, it is a large footprint that requires a comprehensive, well-thought-out preventive strategy setting priorities based on our human assets and financial abilities. Maximizing efficiency and planning will allow us to get the best return on investment. The residents and businesses of Montecito face a changing and increasingly complex emergency environment. We need to be prepared before a crisis occurs — not simply react after it begins.

One immediate concern is the forecast for a very strong El Niño this fall and winter. We do not know whether the local result will be predominantly wet or dry, so the District must prepare for both. That means continued emphasis on wildfire preparedness, while also increasing flood abatement, inspections, and public assistance in identifying potential problem areas before heavy rainfall arrives.

Residents and businesses need clear, simple and consistent communication about Go Bags, emergency alerts, evacuation planning, hazard abatement, home hardening and flood preparedness. The Montecito Fire Protection District already offers many valuable services and financial assistance to help residents maximize the protection of their homes. We need to do a better job communicating these programs and making sure residents and businesses know what is available and how to access them.

Finally, responsible asset allocation and multi-scenario planning must be a priority. We should regularly play out different scenarios — including wildfire, extreme rainfall, flooding and debris flows — to determine where equipment, personnel and financial resources would be needed. 

Coordination with our neighboring cities and the many different departments within Santa Barbara County has to be a priority. We will strive to be a leader to bring everyone together and work together for the benefit of our constituents.

Question: Is there anything else you want to add?

Taffae: My goal is straightforward: prepare for multiple risks, communicate clearly, allocate resources responsibly and make sure Montecito is ready for whatever comes next.

Penelope Bianchi

Question: Why are you running for a position on the Montecito Fire Protection District Board of Directors?

Bianchi: I am running for the Montecito Fire Protection District Board because I have personally experienced two major disasters — the 2018 Montecito mudflow and a Pasadena fire at our house.  Those experiences gave me a firsthand understanding of how quickly a crisis can affect a community and how important preparation, communication and an effective emergency response are. 

I want to bring that perspective to the board and help ensure that  Montecito remains prepared for wildfires, mudflows, and other emergencies. I believe my personal experience has given me a strong appreciation for the work our firefighters and emergency personnel do, and I would like to contribute to keeping our community safe and resilient. 

Question: What is your background in the Montecito area?

Bianchi: I moved to Montecito 30 years ago and have been part of this community ever since. I have also owned and operated a decorating business in town, which has given me a close connection to local residents, businesses, and the community.

Over the past three decades, I have seen Montecito change and have developed a deep appreciation for what makes this community special. My long-term residence and experience as a local business owner have given me a personal understanding of the needs and concerns of the people who live and work here.

Question: What relevant experience would you bring to the board?

Bianchi: I would bring a strong commitment to community service, along with experience serving on local boards and working with residents on community matters. I previously served on the Board of the Montecito Association, and I currently serve on the  Design Review Board for a local homeowners association. I have also volunteered with Wildlife Care Network and numerous animal rescue organizations. I have a particular passion for helping animals in need and have taken in stray turtles and cared for them. 

These experiences have taught me the importance of listening to people, working collaboratively, understanding different perspectives, and making thoughtful decisions that serve the broader community. Combined with having lived and worked in Montecito for 30 years and having personally experienced major disasters, I believe I would bring a practical and community-focused perspective to the Fire District Board. 

Question: What do you believe are the most important issues facing residents and businesses within the fire district, and how would you address them?

Bianchi: I believe communication and preparedness are two of the most important issues facing our community. During a natural disaster, people need timely, accurate information so they know what is happening, where to go, and how to get themselves, their families, employees, and customers out of harm’s way. Reliable emergency alerts and clear evacuation information are vital.

I also believe preparation has to happen before an emergency. Maintaining roads and evacuation routes, managing trees and vegetation, and keeping creeks and drainage areas clear of debris can all play an important role in reducing risks and helping emergency responders do their jobs.

As a community that has experienced both wildfires and devastating mudflows, we know that emergencies can develop quickly. I would support continued attention to preparedness, clear communication, and practical measures that help protect residents, businesses, first responders, and our community as a whole.

Question: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Bianchi: I have a deep appreciation and love for our firefighters and the work they do for our communities. I experienced this firsthand during the Pasadena fire, when my home was burned down, the firefighters not only worked to protect people and property, but they also took the time to save almost all the contents my house. Their kindness, thoughtfulness, and compassion during such a difficult and frightening experience left a lasting impression on me. 

That experience, along with living through the Montecito mudflow, has given me an even greater appreciation for the importance of having a well-prepared, well-supported fire department. I would be honored to serve my community and give back by bringing my experience, perspective, and commitment to the Montecito Fire Protection District Board.

Jeffrey Gittler

Question: Why are you running for a position on the Montecito Fire Protection District Board of Directors?

Gittler: I am running for the office because I want to get involved in helping the Montecito community.

Question: What is your background in the Montecito area?

Gittler: My wife and I have lived in Montecito for over 20 years. 

Question: What relevant experience would you bring to the board?

Gittler: My experience that would be helpful is that I was a Deputy District Attorney for over 25 years in Santa Barbara County and prosecuted the defendant who was responsible for the 2009 Gap fire in Santa Barbara.

I also sat on the board of Newhouse, a sober living home, for several years, so I have experience as a board member. 

Question: What do you believe are the most important issues facing residents and businesses within the fire district, and how would you address them?

Gittler: The most important issues for the residents and businesses are keeping the community safe and helping our brave firefighters.