Endorsements, June 2018
From the Westside of S.B. to Washington, D.C., the Independent’s Picks
This year’s June midterm elections are a case of feast and famine. Statewide, we have no fewer than 32 candidates running for U.S. Senate — one is inveighing against “the social sickness of transgenderism” and another against microwave poisoning — and 27 are running for governor. Yet here in Santa Barbara County, we have two supervisorial district races with uncontested candidates. The last time Santa Barbara saw two uncontested supervisorial races was precisely never.
In one of those contests — for the 2nd Supervisorial District — candidate Susan Epstein abruptly withdrew from the race at the last minute, citing personal reasons, effectively precluding anyone else from challenging the only other candidate, Gregg Hart. Three other county races are uncontested: for district attorney, superintendent of schools, and treasurer-tax collector.
For those who like horse races, there’s the race to elect the councilmember to represent the City of Santa Barbara’s District 3, on the city’s Westside. Four first-time-ever candidates are running there, where voter turnout has been historically low. A candidate who can muster 450 votes might well win. Given that this councilmember will tip the council’s precarious balance of power, that constitutes a significant impact for only a few votes.
