First 3rd District Supervisor debate kicks off

 

 

Third District Supervisor candidates kicked off the first campaign debate with fervor March 19, with some taking off the gloves and holding no punches.

About 100 people filled the Best Western Pea Soup Andersen’s in Buellton to listen to the campaign debate. Sheriff Bill Brown, 2nd District Supervisor Janet Wolf, and other officials and members of the public were in attendance.

All five of the candidates, Doreen Farr, David Smyser, Dr. David Bearman, Steve Pappas, and newly added Victoria Pointer, shared their points of view and action plan for key issues important to the 3rd District, which encompasses the valley, Santa Maria and other North Coast cities, and parts of Goleta.

 

The main topics of discussion were the county budget deficit, Chumash Casino expansion and the relationship between the county and the tribe, state mandated affordable housing and the jobs-housing balance, and accommodating a growing North County population.

The debate began with two minute opening statements, led by Victoria Pointer. In their opening statements, all of the candidates focused on their various experiences as business owners, community activists and public representatives.

Pointer focused on her 16-plus years of experience in public service, including her tenure as a Buellton city council member and her multiple appointments as the city’s mayor as selling points.

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Pointer said she felt that she had lived in the area a “lifetime” and said if elected could bring all factions of the 3rd District together.

She reiterated her position as the “moderate alternative voice.”

 

Bearman followed Pointer, saying he was the 3rd District’s “prescription for change,” and Pappas, Farr, and Smyser followed in turn.

Pappas called himself the “independent” candidate and said that independence was essential to the 3rd District Supervisor seat.

While other candidates seemed to keep the gloves on and not make any individualized attacks on one another, Smyser and Farr, the two leading candidates, seemed entangled in their own competitive battle to gain ground with supporters.

Smyser began his opening remarks with his assertion that Farr was not the person for the job.

“I don’t think Mrs. Farr should or can represent this district,” he said.

He added that her experience in the 2nd District was not representative of the 3rd District, and said that it would hinder her judgment in 3rd District matters.

 

“I don’t want the Santa Ynez Valley to look like the 2nd district,” he added.

The candidates seem to share the view that dealing with the county’s budget deficit required cuts from the top down.

Bearman promoted bio-fuels as a revenue generator and stressed the importance of workforce housing. Pappas said he would start by looking at the feasibility of cutting administrative and classified staff before cutting services. Farr contended that she would look closely as cuts to make sure they would not cost the county more money in the long run, while Smyser said he would focus on cuts as well as generating increasing revenue from retail and other county markets.

Pointer agreed that cuts would have to be made, but assured that she would not advocate cutting “needed services,” such as health care, probation, and law enforcement.

All of the candidates were opposed to Chumash Casino expansion, but offered up different alternatives to deal with the distressed relationship between the county and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

Pappas committed to hiring a liaison to act as an intermediary between the county and the tribe.

Pointer said she would work hard to avoid “mud from being slung,” and would open the communication between the county and the tribe.

 

Bearman called the Chumash a “major economic engine,” and stressed the importance of holding the tribe to account for additional community contributions.

He said he thought the tribe at times had “shot themselves in the foot” by shutting down communication with the county. One of Bearman’s solutions was to install a toll system, to which the audience applauded.

Smyser said he wouldn’t “shut the tribe down or give them a free pass,” and would work to bring an even flow of cooperation on both sides.

Everyone seemed to agree that additional communication between the tribe and the county was necessary for the 3rd District.

Smyser stood out as the sole proponent of moving Isla Vista into the 2nd District, a stance the audience applauded.

Bearman was on the complete opposite side of the spectrum regarding this issue and said he “absolutely and unequivocally” opposed moving the city into the 2nd District.

At the end of the debate, Farr said she was disheartened by what she characterized as Smyser’s attack on her.

 

“I was disappointed he would choose to involve the audience in such a divisive way,” she said. “It seemed kind of desperate. I guess he sees me as a main rival in this race.”

Though Smyser said he would not answer any questions unless they were sent to him in writing, his media representative, Marlene King, said Smyser’s remarks regarding Farr were not personal. King brought up Farr’s endorsement by Wolf and 1st District Supervisor Salud Carbajal and added that if Farr is elected she would be more representative of the 2nd District and not the third.

“He sees her as more of a [candidate] whose decisions would be influenced by the 2nd District,” King said.

The debate was staged by the Committee INC.

There will be a 4th District Debate on April 16. For more information on each of the candidates, visit, www.DoreenFarrforsupervisor.com, www.smyserforsupervisor.com, www.davidbearmanforsupervisor.com, www.stevepappas.org. For additional information on Victoria Pointer’s platform, email her at pointfam@sbceo.org.