Endorsements 2020: March 3 Election

Every election year, the Santa Barbara Independent researches the issues and the candidates as carefully as possible. In the races where we see clear choices, we make endorsements. We do not endorse in every race, but in those we do, we do so with confidence, or at least with a clear understanding of why we support one candidate or one ballot initiative over another. Whether you agree with our choices or not, we urge you to vote. For over three decades, we have been covering elections in Santa Barbara County, and there is one thing we can say with absolute certainty: Every vote really does count. 

Das Williams

For Santa Barbara County Supervisorial District 1

Endorsing a candidate in the current 1st Supervisorial District race has been among the most difficult decisions the Santa Barbara Independent has struggled to make in our 34 years. In it, we face an excruciating choice between two progressive, environmentally minded candidates, incumbent Das Williams and challenger Laura Capps. Both are serious people; both have demonstrated a serious commitment to public service. Both are clearly politically ambitious.

As unfortunately happens when such likeminded opponents square off, campaigns tend to get ugly. In the heat of battle, one side’s “facts” are the other side’s “lies.” In this campaign, we have seen enough of both to last us a few lifetimes.