Familiar Faces Apply for Vacant Spots on City Boards and Commissions
City Council Continues With Second Round of Interviews to Fill 43 Open Positions on City Advisory Groups
Santa Barbara city council held a second round of interviews to fill 43 vacant positions on 17 different city advisory boards, with nearly 60 candidates applying for spots in various groups, ranging from the Arts Advisory Council and Harbor Commission to smaller boards like the Neighborhood Advisory Council and the Civil Service Commission.
While some of the groups are struggling to fill the open positions — like the Living Wage Advisory Committee, with three vacancies and only one application — some of the more popular boards have attracted stiff competition, and a few familiar faces looking to stay involved in a new way.
One familiar face is former Santa Barbara Unified Board President Kate Ford, who is one of six applicants vying for the lone spot on the Harbor Commission. Ford, who is a lifelong educator who worked her way up through the ranks as a teacher, principal, superintendent, board member, then board president (before suddenly announcing her retirement last year), has also served terms on the Santa Barbara High School MAD Academy Board and Maritime Museum Board.
