Santa Barbara City Councilwoman Kristen Sneddon was endorsed by the Santa Barbara County Democratic Party late Thursday night.
The Democratic Central Committee met in Buellton and voted to endorse Sneddon and Susan Salcido, who is running for re-election as the superintendent of county schools.
Candidates needed 60% of the Central Committee members support to win an endorsement.
“Kristen Sneddon has consistently demonstrated the kind of principled, community-centered leadership Santa Barbara needs right now,” said Christian Alonso, chair of the Santa Barbara County Democratic Central Committee. “She understands the urgency of addressing housing affordability, climate resilience, and public safety, and she brings a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach that reflects our Democratic values.”
He said he was personally touched by what she said about protecting her students from ICE raids.
“She’s the only candidate who brought that up and said something along the lines of ‘will put my body on the line to protect them,'” Alonso said.
Sneddon is a geology teacher at Santa Barbara City College.
Alonso said the committee is grateful to all of the candidates who stepped forward to run and contribute to a “thoughtful, competitive race, and we thank them for their commitment to public service.”
” After careful consideration, our members are proud to stand with Kristen Sneddon as the best choice to lead Santa Barbara forward,” Alonso said.
City Councilman Eric Friedman and former Santa Barbara Unified School District board member Wendy Sims-Moten also sought the party’s endorsement.
Although the contest is technically nonpartisan, the backing of the democrats brings a wealth if support in the form of door-knockers, canvassers and phone-bankers. Voters more in-touch with statewide or mid-term election matters often just vote the Democratic ticket in November.
Although the election isn’t until Nov. 4, and the filing deadline isn’t until August, the Democrats endorsed in January as a way to send a clear message of support for Sneddon and attempt to clear the field.
Four years ago Democrat mayor Cathy Murillo was ousted from office, even finishing third, behind another Democrat, James Joyce III. The two strong Democrats in the race split votes, and Randy Rowse, who is known as a right-leaning moderate, won the seat.
Rowse is registered as a No Party Preference. He will be seeking a second-term as mayor.