Housing, immigration and the county’s financial issues were some of the top issues at a forum Thursday night for candidates vying for the position of Second District Santa Barbara County supervisor.

The League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara hosted the two candidates for the seat — Laura Capps and Elijah Mack — at the Goleta Union School District office, where the moderator allowed the pair to share their views and then took questions from the audience.

Starting the event was Capps, who is running for re-election to the Board of Supervisors. Capps, who was elected to the seat in 2022, began the forum by listing her family connection to Santa Barbara and detailing her political experience.

She told the audience that her reasons for running again are to continue pushing for housing, fighting climate change, improving public safety and protecting the community from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

She added that in a time when people distrust the government, the county needs to show it can be compassionate and accountable.

“Here in Santa Barbara County, we are showing something different,” Capps said.

Mack is a political newcomer who challenged Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón for her seat in 2024. Mack, who describes himself as a localist, said he has volunteered for multiple political parties and is preparing to graduate from college in the next few weeks.

“So, I’m neither a career politician nor some random kid with absolutely no experience trying to step into this office,” he told the crowd.

Mack added that his goal, if elected, is to support local businesses and help the economy become self-sufficient.

The first question to the candidates was about the biggest issue facing the county, which both candidates said was a lack of housing.

Mack stressed the need to build more housing for the county’s middle class, which he said does not have enough housing options. He supported incentives such as tax cuts, removing regulations and fees, and finding ways to encourage developers to build more housing for working and middle-class families.

Capps acknowledged that it is too expensive for many people who live in Santa Barbara and want to continue living here. She highlighted the thousands of units the county has approved during her time on the board, but also mentioned the county’s push for new workforce housing.

Capps has been a supporter of using county land to build housing for its employees to address the local housing shortage. An example of that is the proposed apartment complex that the county approved in downtown Santa Barbara.

“I’m very proud of what we’re doing,” Capps said. “In my mind, government can’t just talk about the affordability crisis. We have to put our own skin in the game.”

During a discussion about how to respond to raids from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Mack went back to his philosophy as a localist to explain his thoughts on undocumented immigrants.

“Santa Barbara is my country, and anyone who lives an upright life, who lives in our society, who lives in our communities, who’s a beneficial neighbor, is a citizen of my community in my mind,” Mack said, “regardless of whether they have had the opportunity to or have made the poor decision to not pursue American citizenship.”

Mack said if elected, he would try to bring ICE to the table to negotiate an end to raids in neighborhoods and ask the agency to focus on convicted felons.

Capps responded to the question by outlining the board’s response to immigration enforcement, which includes passing limits on the types of actions ICE agents can perform at county properties.

She added that the board had taken steps to educate the public about their rights at polling places and inform them that ICE agents are not allowed at polling places.

Finally, Capps confirmed that the Board of Supervisors is exploring how to ban ICE detention centers on county land.  

The pair also were asked about the long-term financial health of the county and how they would cut costs while maintaining services. The county is looking at a reduced budget of $1.64 billion as it prepares for an economic downturn.

Capps acknowledged that the county is in a challenging spot and people are worried about the future.  

Despite these concerns, Capps said the county is in a better situation than a lot of other regions. She said the board has been preparing for a downturn and putting money away for the future.

“We have a reserve because we been planning, (fiscally) planning,” Capps said. “I’m very proud of that. I am very much a fiscal steward. I understand that the key part of my job is I am spending your money.”

Capps added that she is always looking for the best way to spend public funds. One example she gave was leveraging funding from Southern California Edison to support the installation of a microgrid in Isla Vista to protect the Sheriff’s Office.

In response, Mack said he would like to see the county rely less on grants and cut costs by working with local groups who are willing to donate time or money toward upkeep of county land.

Mack said he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal order and mutual aid society. Mack said the order has helped fund parks, food banks, and other projects in the past.

“It’s not just a budget issue, but it’s also a community togetherness issue,” Mack said. “I’d love to see these sorts of organizations have a comeback in the United States.”

During closing statements, Capps ended by restating that too many people are struggling to survive in Santa Barbara County. She said she is proud of the work she has done so far, but the county needs to do more.

“We have a lot more work to do,” Capps said. “And again, I’m just getting started, and I’m honored to earn your vote so that we can keep delivering real results.”

Mack closed his statements by reiterating his goal of focusing on local issues and avoiding political agendas.

“I’m running as a pragmatist,” Mack said. “And again, my policies in office and my positions will be dictated by you, because I believe my job as a supervisor, if elected, is purely to objectively represent my constituents.”

Edit Note: This article was updated to clarify that Mack previously challenged Limón for her seat in 2024.