Melinda Greene appears to have ousted longtime incumbent Joe Holland in the race for Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor.

Greene was handily ahead with 59.45% of the vote, according to vote totals as of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night. Holland, the incumbent, had 40.2% of the vote.

“This is the first election I have not worked in 28 years,” Greene told the News-Press. “The preliminary results are hopeful and I was able to be with my family and friends at my first election party. I am grateful to have this spotlight not for myself but to shed light on the critical work we do. I love my Department and it is an honor to serve.”

Holland has served for 24 years, but for at least the past 18 months, he has not worked in the office. He said he is suffering from a chronic illness and has been working remotely, communicating through text messages, phone calls and Zoom.

Greene said the office, and the public, deserve a person in-house full time.

All five members of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors endorsed Greene.

Melinda Greene was all smiles after early election results Tuesday night. Greene appears headed toward ousting Joe Holland from the Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor seat. (Photo by Aston Smith/Santa Barbara News-Press)
A large crowd of supporters cheered on Melinda Greene Tuesday night, after early election results. Greene appears headed toward ousting Joe Holland from the Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor seat. (Photo by Aston Smith/Santa Barbara News-Press)

Check back to the News-Press for updates.

Joshua Molina is editor of the News-Press and an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years of reporting across the South Coast. He is a professor of journalism at Santa Barbara City College and host of local news show SB Talks with Josh Molina.