Wendy Sims-Moten saw the Santa Barbara Unified School District through a slew of global issues over eight years, from the Black Lives Matter movement to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, she’s looking to tackle an even greater challenge: Santa Barbara Mayor.
“My background really is about making sure it’s about all,” she said.
Sims-Moten is running for mayor against Eric Friedman and Kristen Sneddon, two city council veterans.
Sims-Moten also worked for Santa Barbara County for more than 30 years, first starting in the general services department and moving on to serving as executive director of First 5 Santa Barbara County, a commission centered on early childhood development.
She put her approach as mayor simply: “We need to figure out (the) differences that are dividing us and keeping us from the care of each other as humans.”
Growing up visiting a local church in Texas—a place centered on community and serving her elders—has inspired her to put people first as a leader, Sims-Moten said. She is a 40-year resident of Santa Barbara.
Sims-Moten said that sentiment has always been her priority as a member of other community organizations, including the Fund for Santa Barbara, a non-profit advocacy organization, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Caring for children and prioritizing their education, she added, is a central part of her campaign.
“When we start with our children, we become better adults,” Sims-Moten said.
Sims-Moten said she wants to ensure Santa Barbara is a liveable place for people of all backgrounds. While she hasn’t drilled down on a specific solution to affordability concerns, she said the way to address the issue is by going out to the community and talking to people face-to-face.
“The real answer to looking at affordability is to go to the folks who it’s impacting the most in the most negative way,” she said. “We can’t have conversations in the middle of the day and not get a real day-to-day experience.”
If elected, Sims-Moten—a renter herself—said she would support the rent stabilization ordinance as a temporary solution. The ordinance will allow the City Council to pause and create a more long-term solution, she added.
Sims-Moten said she believes the council is at its strongest during “a crisis” or disagreement, when members can put their differences aside and settle on a middle ground.
“I guarantee you, there’s something that’s going to come if you give the space and create the space to have that conversation about it,” she said.
Though Sims-Moten said she doesn’t have a specific vision for downtown Santa Barbara, she will primarily focus on gathering input from locals and children on their wants and needs.
Some aspects of State Street’s future have already been solidified before the next mayor’s term through the State Street Master Plan, which the council approved early September and will cost the city $96 million.
Sims-Moten said she still wants to evaluate how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted State Street, and how certain businesses are impacted by the parts of State Street that are closed to cars.
“My vision is that we continue to continue to work together again for all, for the betterment of all,” she said.
When it comes to the city’s lack of reserves, Sims-Moten said she’s up for the task, having overseen the school board’s budget in previous years. She proposed holding city budget study sessions to ensure all departments understand its financial situation.
“There’s a lot of knowledge that we don’t take advantage of that we may not think are relevant to some of the things that we do,” Sims-Moten said. “That’s how managing the budget is also managing, educating about the budget, including folks’ understanding of the budget.”
Coming into the race without prior experience on the council, Sims-Moten said she brings a fresh perspective that will help her understand residents on a deeper level.
“To be a leader that’s going to govern for all, and that’s going to invite all to be a part of this government—I’m here for it,” she said. “I’m happy to do what we need to do, and not just for this moment, but after this moment.”
In addition to Sims-Moten, Friedman and Sneddon, Matt Killrain is also on the ballot.
