Das Announces Run for the 2nd

[ Excerpted from the SBN-P 1/18/2006 article by BARNEY McMANIGAL ]


... Das Williams officially entered a crowded race for county supervisor Tuesday, defying some party leaders who have urged him to stay out.

The 31-year-old Santa Barbara city councilman, who stated he would fight hardest to protect the environment, said he had the best chance of winning the 2nd District seat on the Board of Supervisors held by the retiring Susan Rose.

Flanked by former Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, former Supervisor Gail Marshall, environmental activists and City Council colleagues, Mr. Williams countered the political muscle flexed by party leaders last week on behalf of Janet Wolf.

The former Goleta school board member has locked up endorsements from party heavyweights such as Rep. Lois Capps, Ms. Rose and former Supervisor Naomi Schwartz -- some of whom have asked Mr. Williams not to run.

Other candidates in the technically nonpartisan race include former Santa Barbara Councilman Dan Secord and County Fire Department emergency specialist Joe Guzzardi...

The June 6 election will determine who wins the seat on the five-person board, unless a single candidate fails to win more than 50 percent of the vote. In that case, the top two finishers would meet again in November.

Shifting away from his recent focus on neighborhoods, Mr. Williams' campaign kickoff at More Mesa had a strongly green tinge -- from the wild fox on the candidate's tie to the dazzling oceanfront acreage on each side.

... Mr. Williams... focused on capturing support from the area's environmental vanguard, many of whom fight to protect open spaces like the 300-acre More Mesa.

"In politics there is far too frequently a gap between word and deed," Mr. Williams said. "I am the candidate with a proven track record of action."

Mr. Williams has worked for Ms. Jackson and Ms. Marshall. Mayor Marty Blum and council members Helene Schneider and Roger Horton consider him a key ally on the council.

Supporters like Ms. Jackson and Ms. Marshal hinted that Mr. Williams understands the nuances of environmental policies better than Ms. Wolf.

"It's one thing to be an environmentalist, and another to understand the subtleties," said Ms. Marshall.

But Ms. Wolf defended her credentials, pointing to her 11 years on the school board...

Supporters of Ms. Wolf also defended that record and her chances of winning.

... Mr. Williams showered... North County supervisors with fighting words, declaring that he would "draw a line in the sand" against development interests.

... When asked to compare himself to Ms. Rose, Mr. Williams said 2nd District residents "need people who are not going to equivocate."

... Mr. Williams said little about housing but insisted that any growth must come after planners have a chance to update the Eastern Goleta Valley's growth blueprint, the community plan.

"I believe in affordable housing, but you don't want to destroy the reason we're here in the first place."

Few policy issues seem to distinguish Mr. Williams and Ms. Wolf -- or their rival camps of powerful supporters.

The candidate and his backers suggested that personality would play a key role.

Ms. Schneider, who joined Mr. Horton and Mrs. Blum at the event, talked about the need for a supervisor with "passion" and "tenacity."

... Cynthia Gray, who has fought to restrain development around More Mesa and preserve that property... [said] She leans toward Mr. Williams but will make up her mind after hearing from all four candidates at a forum sponsored by the Coalition for Sensible Planning, at 7 p.m. today at the Goleta Valley Community Center.

"I like the boldness of Das," said Ms. Gray. "The (candidate) who stands up strongest to stop development is the person I'll support."

e-mail: bmcmanigal@newspress.com


Santa Barbara News-Press