Two incumbents on the Goleta City Council are looking to retain their seats in the Nov. 3 election.
Incumbents Stuart Kasdin and Kyle Richards are endorsed by the Santa Barbara County Democratic Party in their efforts to serve another four years. They take on two formidable challengers in Justin Shores and Grace Wallace.
A fifth candidate, writer Bruce Wallach, did not return Noozhawk calls or emails.
The council will have to wrestle with how to reopen all parts of the city amid the COVID-19 pandemic while balancing the needs of Goleta’s longtime residents, who still recall when there were lemon trees scattered in backyards and next to Highway 101. Goleta has emerged as a technology hotspot in recent years.
Residents also are experiencing a growth in traffic, particularly at the Storke Road and Hollister Avenue intersection, and a growing discontent from some that Goleta is losing its rural charm in the face of new housing development.
The City of Goleta also has historically had a tense relationship with the chamber of commerce, so the City Council will have to figure out ways to partner with the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce to create a more business-friendly City Hall.
Also on the ballot is a contentious mayoral race between incumbent Paula Perotte and Councilman Roger Aceves.
Stuart Kasdin
Kasdin said he decided to run for the City Council four years ago because of the rampant development in northern Goleta. During his first term, he’s been a voice of slow growth and neighborhood activism.
A Santa Barbara City College instructor, he brings a wonkish style, mixed with jokes, to the board meetings. He said the COVID-19 response, making good budget choices, and restoring creeks and watersheds are his priorities.
“Our first priority is to help protect our community members even as we find ways to support our businesses,” Kasdin said.
He said the city has already allocated $250,000 to help businesses weather the financial storm created by the coronavirus.
“We are working on an economic recovery plan with further support for those impacted,” Kasdin said. “For example, we are exploring how to best assist families that cannot work from home but have children who are being schooled remotely.”
Kasdin said he also wants to focus on the environment.
“We are now engaged in a public process to develop a creek and watershed master plan that will protect, and ultimately guide, our efforts in restoring our waterways and wildlife crossings,” Kasdin said. “We also need to address our open spaces. We received almost $4 million to restore the Ellwood Mesa and Butterfly Grove Habitat management plans and implement the Community Wildfire Plan, but also need to address Lake Los Carneros, including fixing the bridge and the pathway.”
Kasdin said that among his most important contributions while on the City Counciil was putting more of a focus on private agencies that received budget earmarks without being part of a specific program.
“There was not a competitive process to identify whether the right agencies were receiving funding and little oversight of the spending,” Kasdin said. “Now, we are reforming this process. For example, both for economic development and homelessness assistance, we are creating strategic plans to identify our spending needs, and we’re implementing a more competitive process to determine which agencies to fund.”
He served for three years in the Peace Corps and lived in an indigenous community in the highlands of Ecuador, where he worked as an agricultural extensionist providing support for projects on small livestock, soil erosion, and quinoa, especially its marketing.
He also worked in the White House Office of Management and Budget for 12 years, serving three presidents.
“I’ve learned a tremendous amount by listening to residents in both formal and informal settings, as well as from city staff and my colleagues on the City Council,” Kasdin said.
Kyle Richards
Richards said that economic stability, natural resources and affordable housing are among his priorities.
“Protecting our quality of life by preserving and enhancing Goleta’s natural beauty and resources, including mountain views, streams, creeks and beaches, precious butterfly and other habitats,” Richards said. “Addressing the shortage of affordable housing, while ensuring that any new development does not overburden city services, such as public safety, water, recreation, libraries and roads.”
Richards said that during his first term, he is proud of the improvements to Old Town Golta, such as the opening of the Jonny D. Wallis Park, the sidewalk improvement project and the field renovation at the Goleta Valley Community Center.
He supported the creation of a Public Engagement Commission, pushed for increased Spanish language outreach, and encouraged affordable housing by reducing requirements for accessory development units.
Richards has lived in Goleta for 23 years. Before getting elected to the City Council in 2016, he served on the Parks & Recreation Commission and on the board of the UCSB Transportation Alternatives Program.
He also cited as his accomplishments the city adoption a new zoning ordinance, which he said strengthens protections for environmentally sensitive habitat areas and provides more land use clarity, consistency and predictability for residents and businesses.
“I have led the efforts to join Central Coast Community Energy (and now serve as a member of its policy board) and supported efforts to bring cost-saving solar power, energy storage and electric vehicle charging stations to city facilities like City Hall,” Richards said.
He said he also supports a move toward a fossil fuel-free energy system by spearheading the city’s goal of 100 percent renewable energy by 2030 and then adopting a strategic energy plan to reach that goal. He said he worked collaboratively with regional partners to reach mutually beneficial solutions, including issues regarding the library, Goleta Beach and the Santa Barbara Airport.
Justin Shores
Shores has rushed into the race as the pro-business candidate. He said that if elected, he will recognize the sacrifices that Goleta business owners have made to slow the spread of COVID-19 and will be focused on keeping the community from losing the local entrepreneurial charm.
He also wants to bring new revenue to Goleta. He said his first order of business will be to remove the revenue neutrality agreement, which sees the City of Goleta pay the county about $5.3 million annually. The deal was cut as part of the city’s incorporation from the county in 2001, to offset financial impacts to the county.
“The RNA takes tax dollars that be used to help prevent and address homelessness, update our schools and pave our streets,” Shores said.
He said council members are public servants and that his career choices have been “service-oriented and business-minded.”
“I have excelled in my roles through hard work, integrity and dedication, and I will bring the same to my role as a council member,” Shores said. “Let’s work together to keep Goleta clean, safe and prosperous for all.”
Shores said he’s also focused on COVID-19.
“My heart goes out to anyone who has lost a loved one,” Shores said. “My mom and stepdad both had COVID-19 and thankfully recovered. A large number of national COVID-19-related deaths have been patients of long-term care facilities. With two big senior care facilities in Goleta, we need to continue testing and treatment for them as we continue to open up. We must strive to keep them healthy, active and connected with friends and family.”
Grace Wallace
Wallace said she wants to help local businesses rebound from the pandemic.
She plans to launch a “shop local” business campaign before the holidays, encouraging Goleta residents to shop local and limit online ordering.
“This will help our local businesses recoup some of their lost revenue due to the pandemic and at the same time make up for some of the $5.8 million in lost sales taxes,” she said. “Citizens will be delighted to support their community, making it a win-win for everyone.
“We must safely keep our local businesses open to generate revenue rather than shut down, which has proven to be a lose-lose for everyone.”
Wallace said she understands the inner workings of business ownership.
“I’ve been in sales for over 30 years,” Wallace said.
She’s a former member of the Old Town Goleta Community Association, through which she showcased businesses, worked on advertising and held events.
Wallace is the chairwoman of the Love Your City Clean-Up and led her team to earn the National Neighborhood of the Year for Physical Revitalization award.
She traveled to Sacramento four times in 2018 to offer input on proposed laws.
“I quickly realized that all politics starts from a local level,” Wallace said. “Government works better when our citizens get involve. I am running to make Goleta a Good Land for everyone to live in.”
— 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.
