Assessing the views, values of candidates

Assessing the views, values of candidates

By Deborah Brask/Looking Forward

On June 3, voters in the 3rd and 4th districts will have the opportunity to elect new Santa Barbara County supervisors. The Santa Barbara County Action Network (SB CAN) has been closely examining the candidates to determine where they stand on issues important to the entire county, including affordable and workforce housing, preserving agriculture and open space, and developing alternative transportation.

The candidates whose views and values most closely match our priorities are 4th District candidate John Sterling, and 3rd District candidates Doreen Farr, David Bearman and Victoria Pointer. These candidates demonstrate commitment to SB CAN's core principles of social justice, environmental protection, sustainable transportation, and conservation and expansion of affordable housing in Santa Barbara County.

When it comes to housing, Sterling, Farr, Bearman and Pointer all recognize the need to build within urban limit lines, and near job and transportation centers. All have plans to increase affordable and workforce housing.

Bearman supports the inclusion of 30-40 percent affordable and workforce housing in larger developments.

Pointer thinks rental housing and mixed-use development should be a priority when attempting to increase the supply of affordable housing.

Farr supports the rehabilitation of existing units and opposes teardowns and gentrification.

For Sterling, the recently-built Ted Zenich apartments in Santa Maria are a perfect example of good affordable housing that is also attractive.

Unlike some county public figures, Farr, Sterling, Pointer and Bearman do not support the concept of building “village centers” in rural areas, outside urban limit lines, and far from the job and transportation centers that could support them. Such projects promote urban sprawl and negatively impact agriculture.

While village centers are promoted as revenue enhancers, these candidates agree that the costs of infrastructure and services needed to support such projects would offset any gains.

Farr also understands that the construction of hotels as a way to bring revenue to the county is inherently problematical. The creation of new low-wage jobs negatively impacts our affordable-housing crisis. Low-wage workers also impact social services when budgets are being severely cut. These negative impacts could well offset any increase in revenue.

Bearman, Farr and Sterling bring to the table viable ways to increase the county's revenues without impacting affordable housing and social services. Bearman advocates increasing our tax base by stimulating alternative-energy projects. Farr and Sterling recognize the importance of supporting existing major industries and small businesses, as well as bringing in new high-tech jobs.

All four candidates agree that preserving agriculture, open space and environmental resources are important. Farr and Bearman emphasize the need to protect environmentally vulnerable areas like the Gaviota Coast. They see the transfer of development rights as a tool for moving development away from rural land into urban areas.

They also support strong zoning that keeps ag land in production - a position that Sterling and Pointer also support.

The need for creating alternative-transportation systems that would alleviate traffic congestion while reducing pollution and greenhouse-gas emissions is also recognized by all four of these candidates.

Farr favors working with employers to reduce peak hour traffic, increasing bus routes and carpool options, and adding to the bike lane system. Pointer wants to connect bikeways and create more pedestrian-friendly communities.

Bearman supports commuter rail and a shuttle bus system to Isla Vista. Sterling emphasizes that alternative transportation is important for providing transportation to the transit-dependent, as well as for environmental reasons.

So which of these candidates is best equipped to do the job? Now's the time to examine the candidates' positions and support those whose views and values most match your own. SB CAN has done so, and will be announcing our endorsements soon.

Deborah Brasket is executive director for the Santa Barbara County Action Network (SB CAN). She can be reached at 722-5094, or Deborah@sbcan.org. Looking Forward runs every Friday, providing a progressive viewpoint on local issues.