Voter’s Guide — Candidate Statements: Montecito, What’s on the ballot for November 5th Election?

Misplace your sample ballot? We have you covered. Here are the candidate statements for the upcoming election:

President and Vice President 

Republican: Donald J. Trump / JD Vance

Peace and Freedom: Claudia de la Cruz / Karina Garcia

Democratic: Kamala D. Harris / Tim Walz

American Independent: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. / Nicole Shanahan

Libertarian: Chase Oliver / Mike ter Maat

Green: Jill Stein / Rudolph Ware

United States Senator

There are two U.S. Senate contests on this ballot. 

– One for the regular 6-year term ending January 3, 2031

– One for the remainder of the current term ending January 3, 2025

You may vote for both contests.

Steve Garvey (R)

Occupation: Professional Baseball Representative

Adam B. Schiff (D)

Occupation: United States Representative

United States Representative, District 24

Also referred to as a congressman or congresswoman, each representative is elected to a two-year term serving the people of a specific congressional district. Among other duties, representatives introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments, and serve on committees. (Source: house.gov)

Thomas Cole (R)

Age: 67

Occupation: Data Analyst

Education and Qualifications: Dear voters, it’s time for a decision. For the safety of your children and the protection of your nation, we need you to decide. Do you want a country that fights endless wars?

Do you want $200 billion of your tax dollars sent to Ukraine while our homeless veterans die on the streets?

Do want a nation that has open borders?

Do you want schools that have men competing against your daughters and in their showers?

Do you want a nation where bicoastal political and media elites and tech barons prosper while you can’t afford basic necessities?

And, do you want continuing inflation destroying your paycheck, doubling the price of food and gas and your mortgage payment?

Now, I offer a solution and that is to vote for me, Thomas Cole for Congress, where your vote for me will mean a vote for America. A vote for your right to have safe schools, safe borders, plentiful jobs and stable money.

We need the government to get out of the way and allow the private sector to provide more energy jobs, more housing, and better education.

And, government should be providing the things we cannot do ourselves, like border security, infrastructure and national defense.

Instead, what you are getting is politicized schools promoting transgenderism, open borders with crime and thousands of homeless people many of them mentally disturbed and violent — admitted into your neighborhoods.

It’s time for a change. I will be that change. Learn more at thomascoleforcongress.com

Salud Carbajal (D)

Occupation: Member of Congress

Age: 59

Education and Qualifications: I’m Salud Carbajal, and I’m working to advance our Central Coast priorities in Congress. 

I grew up on the Central Coast. My father worked as a farmworker in Ventura County. I attended UCSB while working two jobs to become the first in my family to graduate from a university. I proudly served our country in the Marine Corps Reserves, and my community as Santa Barbara County Supervisor. My wife, Gina, and I raised our family here, and now are watching our grandchildren grow up here.

In Congress, I’ve focused on supporting hardworking families and growing the middle class. I helped pass laws that are creating jobs, investing in our infrastructure and clean energy, and lowering costs of living including housing and health care. 

I’m still fighting to defend reproductive freedom and restore abortion access nationwide. And as an immigrant, I am committed to advancing overdue fixes to our broken immigration system and restoring order at our borders. I’ve worked on legislation that protects our environment, addresses climate change, bans new offshore drilling off our coastline, supports our veterans, and makes our communities safer by getting guns and deadly fentanyl off our streets. At a time when Washington dysfunction is at an all-time high, I’ve remained focused on finding common ground across the aisle to tackle homelessness, improve child care availability, and prevent wildfires.

I would be honored to continue working for you in Congress.

For more information, visit SaludCarbajal.com

I kindly ask for your vote. Thank you.

State Senator, District 21

The California State Senate is the upper chamber of the California State Legislature. Alongside the California State Assembly, it forms the legislative branch of the California state government and works alongside the governor of California to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the California State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes. (Source: ballotpedia.org)

S. Monique Limón (D)

Occupation: California State Senator

Education and Qualifications: As a lifelong resident of the Central Coast, I’m honored to represent Santa Barbara County in the State Senate.

I have a proven record of working to improve our schools, protect our environment, expand job training, advance women’s health care, protect consumers, combat the high cost of living, and bring resources to our area to prevent and fight wildfires. That’s why I am proud to be supported by a broad range of community leaders including teachers, nurses, and firefighters.

Since being elected, l’ve worked to tackle climate change, protect consumer privacy, improve mental health care and long-term strategies to prevent homelessness, improve access to quality healthcare including aging and Alzheimer’s, and help safeguard human trafficking survivors. Access to healthcare continues to be a priority for our community and I have worked with a coalition to protect and improve it. I earned a 100% voting record with Health Access California.

I’ve worked to protect our air, water and coastline, and earned a 100% rating from the Sierra Club and California Environmental Voters.

In response to the Supreme Court’s overruling of Roe v. Wade, I co-authored Proposition 1, which passed overwhelmingly by the voters of California, to enshrine the right to choose for women in our State Constitution.

These challenging times require effective leadership and the integrity to stand up for the people of the Tri-Counties. I believe my record reflects both.

I would be honored to earn your vote for my re-election to the State Senate. Thank you for your consideration.

www.MoniqueLimonforSenate.com

Elijah Mack (R)

Occupation: College Student

There was no Candidate Statement filed.

Member of the State Assembly, District 37

The California State Assembly is the lower chamber of the California State Legislature. Alongside the California State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the California state government and works alongside the governor of California to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the California State Assembly include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes. (Source: Ballotpedia)

Sari M. Domingues (R)

Occupation: Retired Business Analyst

Education and Qualifications: I’m Sari M. Domingues, and I’m honored to be your candidate for California State Assembly District 37. Growing up in this community, I’ve witnessed California’s potential firsthand and have experienced its decline. It is time to stop the decline and bring California back to the strong, vibrant state we all love. With 30 years of extensive experience in public service, I had to problem solve, project manage, be detail oriented and a critical thinker. I worked with all levels of employees including front-line staff, subject matter experts, technical staff, and administration. My work experience taught me valuable lessons on collaboration and has given me strength dealing with adversity. I have earned a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership based on Servant Leadership. My dedication to the principles of Servant Leadership, and love for my community make me the candidate capable of bringing positive change to District 37 and the State as a whole. With your support, I’ll work tirelessly to revitalize our local economy, promote job growth, strengthen our schools, and create safe and flourishing communities. Together, we can create a brighter future for District 37 and California. Please vote Sari M Domingues for California State Assembly District 37.

Gregg Hart (D)

Occupation: State Assemblymember

There was no Candidate Statement filed.

Santa Barbara Unified School District,

Governing Board Member Area 2

The Board of Education is the educational policy-making body for the District. To effectively meet the District’s challenges, the Board and Superintendent must function together as a leadership team. To ensure unity among team members, effective operating procedures, or protocols, must be in place. There are general protocols and those that are specific for the Board and for the Superintendent. This is a nonpartisan office.

John Robertson

Occupation: Retired Educator

Education and Qualifications: My entire adult professional life has been devoted to education and schools. I was a regular classroom teacher – dealing with all academic subject areas – in the upper elementary grades in Lodi USD followed by Glendale USD for 11 years, plus taught adolescents in Mexico, Egypt, Indonesia, and Malaysia for a total of 15 years. Back in Santa Barbara, I culminated my career with another 15 years teaching in the English as a Second Language (ESL) and English Skills departments at City College, followed by the English for Multilingual Students (EMS) program at UCSB. Now retired, I want to give back to my community with my interest and expertise in educational issues and institutions, which includes caring for the lives and welfare of students and their families, as well as faculty and staff.

Sunita Beall

Occupation: School Board Member/Doctor

Education and Qualifications: I am running for school board because I believe we can do better. I envision a Santa Barbara Unified School District where every child thrives in an engaging and safe environment. We need a district that values its students, teachers, staff, and community resources, ensuring equitable educational access for all.

With 25 years of experience as a physician in our community, I understand the importance of dedicated service. My children attended Peabody Charter School, Dos Pueblos High School, and Santa Barbara High School, which deepened my commitment to our schools. For the past three years, I have actively participated in the SBUSD Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) advisory committee, advocating for vulnerable students.

For much of the last decade, I have been a strong advocate for our students, addressing the board on crucial district policies and spending. My experience as a parent and professional has reinforced my belief in strong financial stewardship and transparency in school district governance.

As a current member of the Santa Barbara Unified School District Board, l am running for reelection to continue championing a unified district. I am dedicated to making our schools exemplary and ask for your support in this election. Together, we can ensure that SB Unified truly stands unified.

www.sunita4sb.com

Montecito Fire Protection District Board At-Large

3 Seats up for election. As obviously this is a position and organization that has a large impact on the Montecito community, and its safety, the MJ will be delving further into this election in the upcoming issue.

Jason Copus

Sylvia Easton

Cliff Ghersen

Michael N. Lee 

Joseph Michael Pennino

And a word for Guy R. Walker, Santa Barbara County Board of Education Trustee Area 4

Although not specifically in Montecito, the MJ would like to add its support to Guy Walker. More than anything else, this moment calls for community building, and that is we strongly endorse Guy Walker for District 4 Trustee for the SB County School Board. Currently Chair of the Dunn School’s Board of Trustees, former Chair of the Endowment for Youth Foundation Board, and having served for 10 years, part of that as Chair, on the College School District Board of Trustees, Walker has a strong and consistent track record of thoughtful, intelligent, conciliatory leadership. A serious consensus builder, Walker thinks on a grand scale but works on the local level. And unlike so many would-be County Board members, Walker understands what the job entails. And it is within the limited purview of a County School Board member’s job that he wants to better connect Santa Barbara’s 20 school districts to one another, to advocate for better programs, better communication, and an overall better education. Walker also sees an opportunity for the County to take a bigger role in terms of helping folks understand how do these district systems work, how we can better access the district systems, and how we can better advocate, first and foremost, for kids! I can’t think of a better model for what this moment calls for in our leaders.

Proposition 2

Authorizes bonds for public school and community college facilities. Legislative

Statute. 

Authorizes $10 billion in general obligation bonds for repair, upgrade, and construction of facilities at K-12 public schools (including charter schools), community colleges, and career technical education programs, including for improvement of health and safety conditions and classroom upgrades. Requires annual audits.

Fiscal Impact: Increased state costs of about $500 million annually for 35 years to repay the bond.

Supporters: California Teachers Association; California School Nurses Organization; Community College League of California

Opponents: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

Proposition 3

Constitutional right to marriage. Legislative constitutional amendment.

Amends California Constitution to recognize fundamental right to marry, regardless of sex or race. Removes language in California Constitution stating that marriage is only between a man and a woman.

Fiscal Impact: No change in revenues or costs for state and local governments.

Supporters: Sierra Pacific Synod of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Dolores Huerta Foundation; Equality California

Opponents: Jonathan Keller, California Family Council; Rev. Tanner DiBella

Proposition 4

Authorizes bonds for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, and protecting communities and natural lands from climate risks. Legislative statute. 

Authorizes $10 billion in general obligation bonds for water, wildfire prevention, and protection of communities and lands. Requires annual audits. 

Fiscal Impact: Increased state costs of about $400 million annually for 40 years to repay the bond

Supporters: Clean Water Action; CALFIRE Firefighters; National Wildlife Federation; The Nature Conservancy.

Opponents: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

Proposition 5

Allows local bonds for affordable housing and public infrastructure with 55% voter approval. Legislative constitutional amendment. 

Allows approval of local infrastructure and housing bonds for low- and middle-income Californians with 55% vote. Accountability requirements.

Fiscal Impact: Increased local borrowing to fund affordable housing, supportive housing, and public infrastructure. The amount would depend on decisions by local governments and voters. Borrowing would be repaid with higher property taxes.

Supporters: California Professional Firefighters; League of Women Voters of California; Habitat for Humanity California

Opponents: California Taxpayers Association; California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce; Women Veterans Alliance

Proposition 6

Eliminates constitutional provision allowing involuntary servitude for incarcerated persons. Legislative constitutional amendment. 

Amends the California Constitution to remove current provision that allows jails and prisons to impose involuntary servitude to punish crime (i.e. forcing incarcerated persons to work).

Fiscal Impact: Potential increase or decrease in state and local costs, depending on how work for people in state prison and county jail changes. Any effect likely would not exceed the tens of millions of dollars annually.

Supporters: Assemblymember Lori Wilson

Opponents: None submitted

Proposition 32

Raises minimum wage. Initiative statute.

Raises minimum wage as follows: For employers with 26 or more employees, to $17 immediately, $18 on January 1, 2025. For employers with 25 or fewer employees, to $17 on January 1, 2025, $18 on January 1, 2026.

Fiscal Impact: State and local government costs could increase or decrease by up to hundreds of millions of dollars annually. State and local revenues likely would decrease by no more than a few hundred million dollars annually.

Supporters: None submitted

Opponents: California Chamber of Commerce; California Restaurant Association; California Grocers Association

Proposition 33

Expands local governments’ authority to enact rent control on residential property. Initiative statute. Repeals Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, which currently prohibits local ordinances limiting initial residential rental rates for new tenants or rent increases for existing tenants in certain residential properties. 

Fiscal Impact: Reduction in local property tax revenues of at least tens of millions of dollars annually due to likely expansion of rent control in some communities.

Supporters: CA Nurses Assoc.; CA Alliance for Retired Americans; Mental Health Advocacy; Coalition for Economic Survival; Tenants Together. 

Opponents: California Council for Affordable Housing; Women Veterans Alliance; California Chamber of Commerce.

Proposition 34

Restricts spending of prescription drug revenues by certain health care providers. Initiative statute. 

Requires certain providers to spend 98% of revenues from federal discount prescription drug program on direct patient/care. Authorizes statewide negotiation of Medi-Cal drug prices.

Fiscal Impact: Increased state costs, likely in the millions of dollars annually, to enforce new rules on certain health care entities. Affected entities would pay fees to cover these costs.

Supporters: The ALS Association; California Chronic Care Coalition; Latino Heritage Los Angeles

Opponents: National Org. for Women; Consumer Watchdog: Coalition for Economic Survival; AIDS Healthcare Foundation; Dolores Huerta

Proposition 35

Provides permanent funding for Medi-Cal health care services. Initiative statute.

Makes permanent the existing tax on managed health care insurance plans, which, if approved by the federal government, provides revenues to pay for Medi-Cal health care services.

Fiscal Impact: Short-term state costs between roughly $1 billion and $2 billion annually to increase funding for certain health programs. Total funding increase between roughly $2 billion to $5 billion annually. Unknown long-term fiscal effects.

Supporters: Planned Parenthood Affiliates of CA; American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists; American Academy of Pediatrics, CA

Opponents: None submitted

Proposition 36

Allows felony charges and increases sentences for certain drug and theft crimes. Initiative statute. 

Allows felony charges for possessing certain drugs and for thefts under $950, if defendant has two prior drug or theft convictions.

Fiscal impact: Slate criminal justice costs likely ranging from several tens of millions of dollars to the low hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Local criminal justice costs likely in the tens of millions of dollars annually.

Supporters: Crime Victims United of California; California District Attorneys Association; Family Business Association of California

Opponents: Diana Becton, District Attorney Contra Costa County; Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice

SCHOOL: SANTA BARBARA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

DISTRICT

Measure P2024

Santa Barbara City College measure preserving affordable higher education career training without increasing tax rates. 

To repair and update aging classrooms, labs, college/career-training facilities providing affordable, high-quality education in science, engineering, math, nursing, technology/skilled trades; and fix deteriorating roofs, plumbing, electrical, shall Santa Barbara Community College District’s measure be adopted authorizing $198,000,000 in bonds at legal rates, without exceeding the previously approved $8.50 per $100,000 assessed value (providing $13,255,000 annually) while bonds are outstanding, with oversight/ local control?

COUNTY

Measure H2024

Santa Barbara County essential community services measure. 

To fund local services such as: maintaining 911 emergency communications; gang prevention; repairing deteriorating bridges, potholes, roads, transportation infrastructure; protecting groundwater; addressing homelessness; and general county services/purposes, shall the ordinance increasing Santa Barbara County’s Transient Occupancy Tax (paid only by hotel/short-term rental guests), in unincorporated areas (excluding cities), from 12% to 14%, providing approximately $3,000,000 annually until ended by voters; requiring public audits; all funds locally controlled, be adopted?

CITY OF SANTA BARBARA

Measure I2024

City of Santa Barbara essential local services measure.

Shall the measure maintaining 9-1-1 emergency fire/paramedic/police response, keeping neighborhood fire stations open; improving housing affordability; addressing homelessness; keeping public areas/parks safe, clean; maintaining library services; stormwater protection; improving natural disaster preparedness; retaining local businesses/jobs, and for general government use; by establishing a ½¢ sales tax providing approximately $15,600,000 annually until ended by voters; requiring audits, public spending disclosure, all funds used locally, be adopted?