A well-known incumbent and political insider looks to hold on to his City Council seat against a political newcomer in Santa Barbara’s District 2.
Mike Jordan is running against Terra Taylor. Taylor, who reported raising only $75 as of the last filing deadline, compared with Jordan’s $39,000, is facing an uphill battle against the entrenched incumbent.
Both of the candidates oppose any form of rent control or a rent cap. Jordan supports a proposed half-cent sales tax on the November ballot, while Taylor opposes it. Both candidates support more housing in Santa Barbara and believe that it is important to enforce on illegal short-term vacation rentals on the Mesa and in the coastal zone.
Mike Jordan
Jordan is running for a second term in office.
“I still enjoy working the challenges, addressing the concerns, and overall helping to make government work better both broadly and right down to the neighborhood or person level,” he said.
Jordan was elected to the City Council five years ago after serving two terms on the city’s Planning Commission. He lives on Santa Barbara’s Mesa and is an insurance broker.
During his first term, Jordan credits himself for supporting a new tenant protection ordinance, helping steer the city through the COVID-19 pandemic financially, socially and operationally, and helping to guide the city’s budget process financially by cutting costs and filling only essential vacant positions.
“I feel I’ve successfully served in this role the past four-plus years and can continue to do so for the next term,” Jordan said.
He is the most moderate member of the City Council and is a registered Democrat, but he pulls support from a wide swath of the community. He is friendly with developers and property owners, and believes it is important to have conversations with everyone for the sake of the overall city.
He pushed to crack down on illegal short-term vacation rentals through enhanced enforcement. Jordan also said he tries to work with developers to increase the number of affordable units beyond the city’s 10% minimum.
On the lighter side, he’s proud to have launched a district newsletter, delivering district-specific and citywide news every month or so to about 1.200 households in the district.
“I feel I’m very, and uniquely among my peers, suited to being in the weeds of how things work and affecting improvements, particularly due to my pathway here in prior city, local organizations and business roles,” Jordan said. “I’d call that strength and continuing desire to do that work an ongoing accomplishment, and it’s definitely an ongoing challenge.”
Jordan said he hopes to continue to advocate for both his district residents and city residents overall.
“I’ve strived to consistently balance the approach of immediate and personal response to district constituents and needs, while also absolutely being present in citywide issues and management,” Jordan said.
He said he is proud of the new city leadership and management, and hopes to help solve the city’s structural budget deficit of about $7.1 million.
“I’m hopeful we can navigate the current fiscal challenge, one that pretty much every city is struggling with,” Jordan said.
He noted that Santa Maria is struggling with a $21 million deficit.
“It’s tough to be a full-service city these days,” Jordan said. “We are blessed and burdened with that.”
If elected, he said he hopes to focus on the redevelopment of La Cumbre Plaza, potential housing at Paseo Nuevo, and housing citywide.
Terra Taylor
Taylor, a small-business consultant, is the owner of Smart Start SB. She moved to Santa Barbara in 2017 from Richmond, Virginia. She worked as a mortgage broker for James River Mortgage in Richmond and then at Wells Fargo in Santa Barbara.
“My banking, entrepreneurship, service industry background coupled with my recent academic achievement of earning a degree in global studies from UCSB gives me awareness of both local community resources and global impact, influences and responsibilities of individuals and communities,” Taylor said.
She jumped into the council race late, emerging in July as a candidate. She has appeared at recent candidate forums put on by the League of Women Voters and the Santa Barbara Community Arts Collaborative to help get her message out.
She said she is running for several reasons.
“I believe the U.S. needs more genuinely nonpartisan politicians, like me, to enter the field,” Taylor said. “That must start in our local communities.”
She said she grew up poor and that the experience guides her.
“I have a unique socio-economic background as I grew up in severe poverty,” Taylor said. “I later worked in the financial sector serving middle-class families, and I now live in Santa Barbara, a city with a wide poverty/wealth gap.”
She told Noozhawk that was she was touched by the tragic story of Kenneth Fink, who died by suicide after jumping off the Santa Barbara County Courthouse clock tower observation deck. At the time of his death, Fink was facing a lawsuit from the city after his home was declared a public nuisance.
“Mr. Fink is described as sweet and neighborly,” Taylor said. “He served our community as a teacher and social worker. He paid taxes for decades in this community. He should have been helped. We could — should — have rallied a group to help him with the necessary cleanup and connected him with appropriate resources.”
Taylor said she could have helped Fink if she were on the council.
“With my mortgage servicing, consumer banking and community volunteerism experience, I have the necessary tools to aid and properly communicate with people like Mr. Fink,” Taylor said. “I regret very much that we learned of his struggles only after his death.”
If elected, Taylor said her focus would be the residents.
“I will make time to speak with businesses and residents, attend community events and send out newsletters,” she said. “This will better enable me to be the voice of District 2 on the council and to be a resource to my community.”
Specifically, she said she wants a yellow blinking light at the crosswalk at the entrance to Honda Valley Park.
“This will enable neighborhood residents to more safely cross Carrillo Street to access the walking trail,” she said.
She also said she wants to ensure that community facilities, parks and playgrounds are accessible and maintained.
“I appreciate the support and consideration of Mesa District 2 voters on Nov. 5,” Taylor said.
Noozhawk will feature District 3 candidates on Thursday.