A couple of last-minute election hit-pieces have arrived in people’s mailboxes in recent days. They targeted Santa Barbara City Council candidates Wendy Santamaria and Oscar Gutierrez as being “too extreme.”

Fair enough in the world of politics. These things happen. It’s part of the drama of the contests.

But at least one piece of direct mail targeting a candidate included a Noozhawk photo of Wendy Santamaria. The pieces were sent by the Santa Barbara Taxpayer Advocacy Resource Center, which is an organization led by former Santa Barbara County Supervisor Mike Stoker, and its political action committee.

I reached out to Stoker and asked why he included the photo without permission. He said he didn’t need Noozhawk’s or my permission because it was a First Amendment free speech issue. You can hear my response in the latest episode of Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina.

Regardless of which candidate is targeted, it’s unfair to have a photojournalist’s work taken without permission and used for purposes other than news.

Also in this episode, I break down the state of the District 1 City Council contest between incumbent Alejandra Gutierrez and Wendy Santamaria, as well as District 3, between incumbent Oscar Gutierrez and Tony Becerra.

These two contests have consumed most of the media attention for the City Council elections.

For Goleta voters, I talk about the conservative slate of Richard Foster, Ethan Woodill and Eric Gordon, and their attempts to unseat power on the City Council.

Also, get the latest on the Buellton mayor’s race between David Silva and Dave King, and the story behind County Supervisor Joan Hartmann’s endorsement of Lydia Perez for Lompoc mayor.

Check it all out in the latest episode of Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina.

Josh Molina is a journalist who creates dynamic conversation and provides media content on the issues of the day, including housing, transportation, education, business and culture. He is also a college journalism instructor. Visit SantaBarbaraTalks to make a contribution and please subscribe on YouTube.