In the center of local government affairs sits the Mayor of Santa Barbara, a city seat and hot topic in Santa Barbara. Recently, Santa Barbara’s 51st Mayor announced he will not seek re-election. “I still like doing the job, but the time has come for me to put the bat back in the rack. It’s not any one thing or anyone. It’s just time,” Rowse told the Independent.
Rowse told The Forge back in January when asked about his bid, “Frankly, I’m focused on the job,” and he has been for the past 14 years. He served as a councilmember from 2009-2019, then got elected to a five-year mayoral term in 2021.
He’s been supportive of the police department, especially with their interactions involving immigration (ICE) activity, recently leading to a harsh exchange between him and Councilmember Wendy Santamaria.
Rowse leaves three candidates still in the running—City Councilmembers Kristen Sneddon and Eric Friedmen, and former school board member Wendy Sims-Moten, in the running for the city’s top seat.
Sims-Moten confirmed rumors of her run on Social Media in early April, but hasn’t shared more promotional materials or campaign goals since then. She serves as the Executive Director of First 5, Santa Barbara County, an organization focused on putting money generated from tobacco taxes towards early-years childcare.
Councilmember Friedmen is poised as more of a center-left candidate, moderate on issues around housing. He serves as Mayor Pro Tempore, and also works at a local grocery store, which he says allows him more facetime to connect with his constituents. He sought the Democratic endorsement, but it went to Councilmember Sneddon.
Sneddon teaches geology at Santa Barbara City College and ran for councilmember in 2017. She’s supported environmental policies, the recent rent freeze, and strongly criticized local ICE activity. She runs with the support of the Santa Barbara Democratic Party.
We have yet to see if Mayor Rowse will back any of the remaining candidates ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
