In a move that shakes up the November election, Santa Barbara City Councilman Eric Friedman is running for mayor, the News-Press has learned.
Friedman is seeking the endorsement of the Santa Barbara County Democratic Central Committee, and submitted a questionnaire on Jan. 1. Friedman was elected in 2017 and is termed out this year.
“I really love serving at the City,” Friedman told the News-Press. “This is an opportunity to continue to serve in a town I grew up in.”
Friedman suffered a heart attack in 2025 while paddleboarding and said the near-death experience changed him.
“When I had my heart attack and going through that experience and the struggle to get better really changed how I look at life,” Friedman said. “I don’t want to sit out life and miss opportunities. This is an opportunity and I wanted to pursue it.”
Friedman has been a lifelong Democrat and formerly worked as a chief staffer to Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara.
“The first president I voted for was Bill Clinton,” Friedman said.
Friedman said he has enjoyed his work in the California League of Cities and trying to find common ground and solutions that all cities face.
Santa Barbara City Councilwoman Kristen Sneddon, who previously announced her candidacy, is also seeking the mayor’s seat. She completed a Democratic Party questionnaire as well. The party is expected to make an endorsement later this month.
Although Friedman and Sneddon are both Democrats, they have disagree on issues of renter rights. Friedman opposes a rent stabilization ordinance to cap an annual increase in rents; Sneddon has supported it. Friedman as also advocated for opening State Street to cars, at least a few blocks on a trial basis, but Sneddon has opposed that.
“I would be honored to be endorsed by the Democratic Party,” Sneddon told the News-Press. ” As a lifelong Democrat I share their core democratic values, and that is reflected in my actions on the city council and in the community.”
Friedman’s entry into the race comes as a surprise as he is friends with the current mayor Randy Rowse, who is also seeking re-election.
Friedman told Rowse ahead of time about his decision to join the contest. Friedman said he was not looking to do a “better” job, but one that is “different,” from Rowse’s.
“Eric is a good man,” Rowse said. “We work together well. For the most part we see the city the same way. Eric was very upfront of me. “
Rowse said he has not thought about how the moderate Democrat Friedman’s candidacy would affect his re-election bid.
“I don’t think about it very much,” Rowse said. “I am just focused on doing what I do. I just like to do the job.”
Both Friedman and Sneddon have served two terms on the City Council.
Former Santa Barbara Unified School District Board member Wendy Sims-Moten also filled out a questionnaire to join the mayor’s race. She did not return News-Press calls as of noon on Tuesday.
The deadline to file for a seat is in August. Districts 4, 5 and 6 are also up for grabs in November.