Gabe Escobedo isn’t a man who likes to wait. 

He showed that ambition Tuesday on the steps of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Santa Barbara.

Escobedo, a member of the Santa Barbara Planning Commission, declared his candidacy for the 37th District California State Assembly contest. With about 25 people at his back, Escobedo outlined an agenda focused on housing, education and a new way of thinking in Sacramento. 

“Together, we can do big things,” Escobedo said. “That’s what this moment calls on us to do — to come together and do something big — and that’s the journey we start today.”

Escobedo opened his speech talking about his single mother, who worked two jobs to support him and his siblings. Escobedo was the first person in his family to go to and graduate from college. He talked about wanting to help others go to college and navigate the unwieldy education system. 

He said he would be a representative for the region. 

“We need representatives who are going to advocate for this community and do everything in their power to bring those resources home,” Escobedo said. “The resources we need to provide affordable housing, to build the green energy future that we need, and to fix our higher education system.”

Escobedo follows declared candidate Jonathan Abboud as the second to enter the Assembly race. Currently, all eyes are on Gregg Hart, the Second District Santa Barbara County supervisor, who is thinking about running for the seat. Hart, who has been in elected office in three separate decades, would be considered the favorite to win the seat if he decides to run for it. He is planning to announce his plans later in the week. 

Escobedo, however, isn’t waiting. He also talked about the importance of focusing on climate change. 

“When you have a high-fire area on one side and a rising sea on another, you don’t have the luxury of waiting and following others to address climate change,” Escobedo said. “We must lead, and there’s no better time than now.”

He said his campaign won’t focus on the problems but instead on the opportunities that the community faces. We can’t solve problems, he said, with the “same old leadership.”

“It’s time for a change,” said Escobedo, 33. “It’s time to lead with good ideas and fresh perspective. This campaign is about our children and our grandchildren. We can’t keep waiting for the next generation to save us.”

Escobedo is also the chairman of Santa Barbara’s Community Formation Commission, which is working to form a Civilian Review System for law enforcement.

Among those on hand for the event was Escobedo’s mother, Sharon Escobedo.

“He’s worked so hard toward this,” she said. “I am so proud of him. I think he has a good chance. He’s going to make a lot of change.”

The primary is June 7, and the top two candidates, regardless of party, will face each other in a runoff in November. 

— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.