For the first time this election, all four candidates running in the 3rd District County Supervisorial race shared the stage in a public discussion hosted by the Santa Barbara Independent and the Santa Ynez Valley Star. More than 100 residents packed a Hotel Corque meeting room Wednesday evening as incumbent Joan Hartmann and challengers Karen Jones, Bruce Porter, and Jessica Alvarez Parfrey traded pitches, jabs, and promises on the topics of cannabis, tourism, Camp 4, and others.
Hartmann touted her middle-ground pragmatism, while Jones positioned herself as a fierce defender of American rights. Alvarez Parfrey held a view that unity and collaboration would move Santa Barbara forward. And Porter talked repeatedly about rolling up his sleeves and getting to work. Hartmann and Jones agreed that they almost always disagree, but both said they admired the integrity of the other. They couldn’t ― and didn’t ― say the same thing about Porter. Alvarez Parfrey, meanwhile, stayed clear of the slings and arrows.
Here are the highlights, edited for length and clarity.