Meet Your 37th Assembly District Candidates

As evidenced by the January 27 debate between First District Supervisor Das Williams and challenger Laura Capps – the Montecito Journal Media Group’s standing-room-only event at the Music Academy of the West’s Hahn Hall – we’ve been paying a lot of attention to local politics of late.

Continuing with that mission, we offer this guide to the candidates running to replace the outgoing Monique Limon in her 37th Assembly District seat in Sacramento. There are seven candidates running for the office; all but one, like Limon, self-identify as progressive Democrats, or rather, in the words of Republican candidate Michael Cole, “a bunch of socialists, cultural Marxists.”

This collection of interviews provides both an opportunity for each candidate to answer questions relevant to Montecito voters, and for Montecito voters to get familiar with each candidate. On March 3, voters will have the opportunity to weigh in; the top two vote-winning candidates will advance to a run-off election.

May the best candidate (for Montecito) win!

Jonathan Abboud

A former student body president at UC Santa Barbara, Abboud, 27, Jonathan is the general manager of the Isla Vista Community Services District and a Santa Barbara City College Trustee.

Q. Why are you running for California’s 37th Assembly District, particularly with regard to the Montecito community?

A. The two major issues I’m running on are climate change and education. Climate change intimately relates to the Montecito community. I’m advocating for a Green New Deal, ending fossil fuel permits in the state, putting money behind public work projects to strength our local community. One major issue is the 101, a lot of people travel because they can’t afford to live in the same city they work in and we create this 90-minute parking lot. I also want to see universal pre-kindergarten, so everyone has a basic education, and to bring back tuition-free college to California.

How would you describe the community of Montecito in a sentence?

It’s a beautiful place, but it has gone through a hard time by experiencing a big tragedy.

Why are you the most qualified candidate to represent our community in Sacramento?

I think most voters are looking for someone who can get things done sooner rather than later and I am the candidate in this race who has been working in Sacramento for many years and can apply my experience directly. I will compare Isla Vista and Montecito a bit: we are both unincorporated communities; it is not right we leave these communities to not have a local voice over their own affairs. I cofounded a group in Sacramento, CA Unincorporated, looking to strengthen the options available. It doesn’t have to be cityhood, but more transparency in city budgets.

What role do you think the state should play in critical local issues like disaster assistance and community rebuilding?

I met with a couple of groups about this issue in the last few months. Forest Watch is supporting a billion dollar investment in resiliency for wildfires and other climate change issues. The state should be funding and empowering communities to implement the resiliency issues they know better than the state. The state needs to be intimately involved. It’s a failure of all government for the past 40 years to address climate change.

We also need to take over these public utility companies. That way you have control, like in local communities having control over their local water board.

Can you point to a creative or out-of-the-box solution you’ve fought to implement in order to solve a complicated issue?

Back in 2013, when I was student body president at UCSB, we felt we had no say over the community we lived in. That was a feeling for 50 years in Isla Vista already. Someone brought the idea of creating a community services district and in August 2013, I looked into it and it clicked in my head, for us to solve this problem of not having adequate services and representation, we need to do it ourselves.

On the subject of campaign finance reform, would you agree to a universal cap on contributions, and if so what amount?

We already do have a cap of $4,700, but I would want to move to a public matching system. You can go after smaller donors and it empowers smaller donors to have more say with their dollar. Another simpler one is getting rid of ballot statement fees for local office.

Steve Bennett

A veteran high school history teacher, Bennett, 68, is also a former Ventura City Councilmember and County Supervisor.

Q. Why are you running for California’s 37th Assembly District, particularly with regard to the Montecito community?

A. My main goal in politics is to achieve good government. Because when you are there in Sacramento, you’ve got 2,000 bills coming at you, you need to ask which ones are good government, and which ones aren’t. That’s really the fundamental question you need to ask.

How would you describe the community of Montecito in one sentence?

Montecito is an historic community whose residents cherish and protect their remarkable natural setting and have grown closer together in the last two years.

Can you point to a creative or out-of-the-box solution you’ve fought to implement in order to solve a complicated issue?

In Ventura, we were always fighting Los Angeles-style urban sprawl, and everyone was fighting it one project at a time. So if there was something by your house that you didn’t like, you’d try to mobilize, and then the same type of project would pop up somewhere else. I said we’ve got to come up with an initiative that puts us on the offensive. I co-authored Save Open Spaces and Agricultural Resources (SOAR), first for the city and then the county, so that now it takes a vote of the people before an area can be rezoned for development.

Can you point to an important policy or issue that you fought for or against even if it wasn’t in your best political interest?

When I was elected to the Ventura Board of Supervisors, at a meeting, a representative of the Fire Dept. stood up and said, “Three percent at 50 – you’ve got to do it.” What he meant was at age 50, you can retire, and they multiply three percent by the number of years of service, and that’s the percentage of your final salary you get. It was enormously expensive, and all these guys endorsed me. But I took them on, and we had a strike by the service employees’ union, which also endorsed me. That was not in my best political interest.

On the subject of campaign finance reform, would you agree to a universal cap on contributions, and if so what amount?

Absolutely. When I first ran for County Supervisor in 2000, my opponent took in $40,000. And I voluntarily limited myself to $500, in order to show that we ought to have candidates who collect a little bit of money from a lot of people, rather than a lot of money from a few people. That’s better government.

Steve Blum

A California Lutheran University law professor, Blum, 64, has also served as a trustee on both the Ventura County Community College District and California Community College League.

Q. Why are you running for California’s 37th Assembly District, particularly with regard to the Montecito community?

A. California is at a crossroads and we need to stop divisiveness and solve problems, and I have the knowledge and resume and skill set to help people work together to solve problems. I retired from political life a year ago and intended that to be it. But I want to be part of the solution.

How would you describe the community of Montecito in one sentence?

Montecito is a place where fellow Californians live.

Why are you the most qualified candidate to represent our community in Sacramento?

I was 12 years on the Ventura County Community College Board, taught 25 years and coached cross county 22 years. I know I have the experience for state assembly. I view elections like a job interview. It’s for voters to decide who is qualified.

What role do you think the state should play in critical local issues like disaster assistance and community rebuilding?

Cities like Ventura and Montecito don’t have the funds to provide all the protection. This isn’t going to go away. We are having more fires and natural disasters. We need protection from fire, and we need to address climate change at the state level to make our citizens safer.

Can you point to a creative or out-of-the-box solution you’ve fought to implement in order to solve a complicated issue?

The key to solving complex problems is getting people to sit down and have the will to alleviate something that won’t go away. Some problems aren’t solvable but how can you make things better. In 2008 the district was losing 20 percent of its funds, so the Ventura Unified School District took a 10 percent salary cut, instead of 150 people losing jobs.

How would you describe yourself as a leader? What would your supporters identify as your best qualities and what would your detractors say are your faults?

I am nice, kind, and want to look at helping everybody. I come from a really poor background and understand people better than most. Some of my detractors will say I am too nice.

On the subject of campaign finance reform, would you agree to a universal cap on contributions, and if so what amount?

Yes, I have a self-imposed limit of 100 dollars. Our system is based on who sells the most and our politicians are beholden to these people in D.C. If I am elected, I only want to be beholden to the people.

Charles Cole

A lifelong resident of the 37th Assembly District, Cole, 22, is both the youngest candidate in the race and the lone Republican on the ballot.

Q. Why are you running for California’s 37th Assembly District, particularly with regard to the Montecito community?

A. I’m running because I think it’s a time for a change in Sacramento, they don’t listen to their constituents at all. I’m also running to protect Proposition 13, because this year that’s being voted on this year.

How would you describe the community of Montecito in a sentence?

I would say the motto after the flood was strong together. That’s what I believe we are. We are a tight knit community and care about what happens to each other.

Why are you the most qualified candidate to represent our community in Sacramento?

Because I actually care for the community instead of my position. I want to serve my community, not the government status.

What role do you think the state should play in critical local issues like disaster assistance and community rebuilding?

For me it’s the government’s job to provide the infrastructure. It’s one of the main things the government should do, work closely with local authorities to make sure infrastructure is up to date. Look what happened with the flood, that debris basin was not okay. There is a lot of mismanagement there.

Can you point to a creative or out-of-the-box solution you’ve fought to implement in order to solve a complicated issue?

I am a fan of vouchers for school choice. I went to SBHS and every year I would get the same letter saying the school is failing; are you sure you want to send your kid there? I didn’t have a choice, so personally I would like to be able to get a voucher and go to a charter school or private school.

How would you describe yourself as a leader? What would your supporters identify as your best qualities and what would your detractors say are your faults?

I think the best quality is I am who I am. That’s what all my friends Republican and Democrat say, I won’t BS you. I’m not going to lie to you. What I say to you is what I feel about that issue. If you think I’m wrong, that’s another thing. I will listen to you.

On the subject of campaign finance reform, would you agree to a universal cap on contributions, and if so what amount?

Personally, I don’t really see an issue with a cap. I don’t want there to be a cap. If people want to give, let them give. As long as it’s from an individual I don’t have an issue with that, personally.

Jason Dominguez

A former Santa Barbara City Councilmember, Dominguez, 51, is also the founder of the New Civic Forum, a youth leadership program that also provides advance health care directives.

Q. Why are you running for California’s 37th Assembly District, particularly with regard to the Montecito community?

A. I am passionate about public policy and I feel my experience in several key policy areas, education, public safety, housing and environment are the right mix we need with new leadership in Sacramento.

How would you describe the community of Montecito in one sentence?

I love Montecito; it’s an amazing place, a tight-knit community with strong family and community values, great amenities and quality of life and a desire to be free from natural disasters and have a little more stability and the ability to redevelop as needed with a government that assists rather than gets in the way.

Why are you the most qualified candidate to represent our community in Sacramento?

I have a legislative track record as a city councilmember in providing the right mix of services and community development including big ticket items like insuring a clean and safe water supply during the area’s longest ever draught. I also have worked as a criminal prosecutor and have a strong desire to keep our community safe from crime and natural disasters.

What role do you think the state should play in critical local issues like disaster assistance and community rebuilding?

The state has a large role in making sure technology is uniform which allows for an economy of scale and relatively affordable provision of services that are effective and resilient. The state needs to replace the current utility system with one that promises continuity of service and resilience.

Can you point to a creative or out-of-the-box solution you’ve fought to implement in order to solve a complicated issue?

I believe in the power of the free market and private capital to provide solutions. So in most instances, my approach is to go to the private sector and entrepreneurs to come up with solutions. I’ve supported hackathons in the community health arena to identity public health issues and brainstorm solutions to those issues.

How would you describe yourself as a leader? What would your supporters identify as your best qualities and what would your detractors say are your faults?

I have taken steps to improve my leadership abilities including participating and helping to run the Leadership Santa Barbara Association, sitting on several boards of directors and serving as a city council member. My strengths are my analytical abilities and a focus on staying objective and bringing various stakeholders together. My detractors might say I am too focused on getting results.

Can you point to an important policy or issue that you fought for or against even if it wasn’t in your best political interest?

I fought against the overdevelopment of Santa Barbara, which has led to increased traffic and scarcity of parking downtown and incurred the wrath of the out-of-town development community.

On the subject of campaign finance reform, would you agree to a universal cap on contributions, and if so what amount?

I absolutely believe a cap would help and furthermore I would prevent officials from voting on projects where involved parties made contributions to their campaigns which has led to some horrible decisions in SB County.

Elsa Granados

A bilingual community activist, Granados, 57, is the long-serving executive director of Santa Barbara’s Rape Crisis Center.

Why are you running for California’s 37th Assembly District, particularly with regard to the Montecito community?

I have a great deal of experience to bring to the assembly as well as a fresh perspective. I care about the communities of the Central Coast and have made significant change in the areas of sexual assault and stalking and can bring that same energy and passion to the assembly.

How would you describe the community of Montecito in a sentence?

It’s a community that most recently has faced many challenges from climate change and cares for each other.

Why are you the most qualified candidate to represent our community in Sacramento?

I have served as executive director of our local rape crisis center for 22 years and in that role, I have honed administrative, management and financial oversight skills. I’ve built relationships with lawmakers at the local state and national level. I know what it takes to garner support for legislation. You have to seek support and lobby other members and then also with the senate as well. I will look for root causes to issues so we can develop long lasting and viable resolutions top those issues. I am not beholden to special interests. I am an independent thinker.

What role do you think the state should play in critical local issues like disaster assistance and community rebuilding?

I believe the state has a significant role to play in that. I am very concerned about insurance companies wanting to pull out. That doesn’t sit well with me. I am concerned with where we are going with regard to public utilities and am supportive of efforts for communities to rebuild as quickly as possible and would partner with our congressmember in this regard.

Can you point to a creative or out-of-the-box solution you’ve fought to implement in order to solve a complicated issue?

When I came to SB to lead the SB Rape Crisis center, we didn’t have Spanish speaking volunteers who could serve 24 hours a day. I said okay, let’s bring together some people so that we can look at this issue. We developed a 24-hour schedule for our Spanish speakers on the hotline. I implemented a requirement that each of the volunteers would be bilingual. Some weren’t and I said they would not lose their jobs but when they turn over, we will hire bilingual speakers. At first, the community didn’t trust us but we built up that rapport and trust in the community until today, now we easily recruit people who are bilingual and the ten full-time staff members all but one speak Spanish.

On the subject of campaign finance reform, would you agree to a universal cap on contributions, and if so what amount?

I would agree to that. I don’t have an amount in mind, but I have thoughts about it. I think assembly member Monique Limon did us a big favor by waiting to announce her decision to run, because it shortened the time people had to raise funds from a year to five months. And I think that’s a good thing. I believe we should have publicly financed campaigns of short duration.

Cathy Murillo

A trained actress and journalist, Murillo, 58, is currently Mayor of Santa Barbara.

Q. Why are you running for California’s 37th Assembly District, particularly with regard to the Montecito community?

A. During the January 9 debris flow, we were on an emergency update phone call with Monique Limon. I really grew to appreciate what our state officials can do. Monique was really sensitive to undocumented people that had lost income and businesses that needed FEMA relief. My platform for Assembly is to improve public education, protect environment, and improve the quality of life for all Californians.

How would you describe the community of Montecito in one sentence?

Montecito is a community of strong family ties and people who care about each other, blessed with natural beauty and positive energy.

What role do you think the state should play in critical local issues like disaster assistance and community rebuilding?

The state of California and its various agencies should be responsive to the families, businesses and institutions in the Montecito area in relation to disaster preparedness and response.

Can you point to a creative or out-of-the-box solution you’ve fought to implement in order to solve a complicated issue?

The city of SB banned oversized vehicles and there was a big concern about people who lived in RVs. I got together with the homeless service and we convened a meeting in a city parking lot, the Carrillo commuter lot, and asked people what they needed. They needed daytime parking spots to come downtown. They have nighttime parking spots through the safety program. I initiated a community based solution. We got parking spaces from a church and the airport.

How would you describe yourself as a leader? What would your supporters identify as your best qualities and what would your detractors say are faults?

Strong, brave, smart, and hardworking. My supporters would say that I do my homework, that I’m accessible and a good listener. My detractors would say that I’m overly-liberal.

On the subject of campaign finance reform, would you agree to a universal cap on contributions, and if so what amount?

Yes. In California there is a max. I accept those limitations and believe that’s a good system.