Gabe Escobedo touted his government experience and love for Santa Barbara.
Jason Carlton said he understands construction and infrastructure better than anyone else.
Anabella Lehne focused on her background as a loan signing agent and ability to look at a budget “line-by-line.”
And Alexander Stoeber said “I love you all,” and that he brings an “abundance mindset” to his campaign.
“I am here so that we can build a future for everyone,” Stoeber said. “So that everyone can see themselves in Santa Barbara.”
The Santa Barbara City Council candidates took part in a District 6 forum Monday night, hosted by the Santa Barbara Independent and moderated by reporter Ryan P. Cruz. About 65 people attended the event, at the Lobero Courtyard.
Candidates at the outdoor forum had 90 seconds to respond to a variety of questions ranging from e-bikes and downtown to rent stabilization and surveillance cameras. The candidates were mostly civil and polite to each other. And there were a couple of emotional moments.
On the topic of ICE raiding communities, Carlton referenced his family’s immigrant experience and was momentarily choked up. He said one grandparent was from Ireland, the other from the Czech Republic.
“Only survivor,” he said, as he fought back tears.
“It breaks my heart to see people ripped away from their families,” said Carlton, who added that local police should go after “violent criminals,” and not people who work hard for their families.
Escobedo called ICE agents “thugs.”
“What this federal administration is doing is one of the darkest moments in American history,” Escobedo said. “They are terrorizing people. Our neighbors. They contribute. They pay taxes. They work. They provide for our kids.”
Stoeber agreed.
“There is no place in Santa Barbara for racial profiling,” he said.
Stoeber said he helped Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals clients buy a condo. He said he has subcontractors who don’t have legal documentation, who help to build local housing projects.
“They don’t know if they can vote,” he said. “They don’t know if they can have a voice in our community because they are afraid and intimidated.
“People should not feel intimidated in Santa Barbara,” Stoeber said. “Santa Barbara should be safe for everyone who lives here.”
Lehne offered a more technical answer.
“We need to connect families with legitimate legal help, resources that they may need, community partnerships that we already have, make sure everyone knows about these places that can help all of our people that need that,” Lehne said.
She noted that she is a daughter of immigrants.
Lehne at one point took a jab at both Escobedo and Stoeber, and pointed out that Escobedo was endorsed by the Democratic Party, and Stoeber by the Republican Party.
“I want you to look at the facts and consider that in a non-partisan race, and what that might mean,” said Lehne. During the same statement, Lehne said she too was a Democrat.
The candidates sat behind a long table and came dressed to the nines. Stoeber wore a blue suit while Escobedo was decked out in a maroon suit. Lehne wore a white jacket and Carlton a pink collared shirt. The event was livestreamed and recorded by DP News.
Escobedo is the perceived frontrunner in the race because of his experience and institutional endorsements, including current councilmember in District 6, Meagan Harmon. He currently serves on the Santa Barbara Unified School District Board of Trustees and previously served on the city’s Planning Commission and Community Formation Commission. He once announced that he would run for California State Assembly but then withdrew after Gregg Hart declared his interest.
Escobedo also sought appointment unsuccessfully to the City Council in 2017. Harmon was appointed instead.
Carlton ran for City Council in 2021 and received 9.675% of the votes. Lehne was encouraged to run by former District 1 councilmember Alejandra Gutierrez.
Stoeber, a realtor, drips with charisma and exudes a vibe of hope and optimism. His campaign recently received a boost after he was endorsed by the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Barbara Police Officers Association.
He told the crowd that he was homeless as a child.
“Santa Barbara gave me a future,” Stoeber said. “I had nothing before I came to Santa Barbara. All I had was a hope, hope and a dream.”
He said he wants more people to be able to live their dreams in Santa Barbara.
“We’re exporting our kids,” Stoeber said. “We are making it too expensive for families to stay here. We need affordable housing.”
Stoeber said he supports the city creating an assistance fund to help people who have months when they can’t afford to pay the rent.
Escobedo said he supports capping rent increases at no more than 60% of CPI. He criticized Stoeber’s idea of one-time rent payments.
“This is not something that with one payment gives people a breath of fresh air, as my friend here likes to say,” Escobedo said. “These are people getting displaced.”
“I love Santa Barbara, full-stop,” Escobedo said. “This is my home.”
All the candidates supported some form of enforcement and education for e-bikers on State Street, as well as physical changes such as speed bumps.
“I ride my bike every day down State Street,” Stoeber said. “I love it. I love the breeze in my air. I love that it’s micromobility. I don’t have to drive my car and I am privileged to be able to live downtown.”
He called for textures, micro speed bumps, calming devices, and education to address the safety concerns surrounding e-bikes.
Lehne called e-bikes “fun” and “terrifying.”
She called for “better infrastructure, education and reasonable enforcement.”
Carlton said he thought there should be enforcement of speed limits.
“There needs to be rules in place that govern that speed,” Carlton said. “They are also quiet. A motorcycle coming around a corner at 25 miles per hour, I can hear them. I can’t hear that e-bike until it’s on top of me.”
This article was updated Sept. 22
