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Santa Barbara City Council, District 5

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City of Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara City Council, District 5

This person would represent one of Santa Barbara's six council districts. They vote on the budget, land use, and ordinances. Santa Barbara is a Santa Barbara County city of about 88,700 residents. The term is four years. The Mayor is elected separately, citywide. The council does not choose the Mayor from among its own members.

Three candidates are running for Santa Barbara City Council District 5. This district covers Upper State Street, La Cumbre, and San Roque. The candidates are Ian J. Baucke, Cevin Cathell, and James G. Zurlinden. Voters pick one, with no primary or runoff.

District 5's seat is one of six district Council seats on Santa Barbara's council-manager government -- the budget, land use, and city ordinances for this Santa Barbara County city of about 88,700 residents -- alongside a separately, citywide-elected Mayor. It's a 4-year term. The seat is open because its sitting Councilmember, Eric Friedman, is running for Mayor instead of re-election, on the same ballot as this race.

All three candidates are political newcomers to elected city office, though Baucke has direct government experience through their current job. Local reporting names them the field's leading candidate. Baucke and Zurlinden both back housing-affordability measures, while Cathell is more skeptical of rent stabilization specifically; on reopening State Street to cars, Zurlinden and Cathell are each open to it in some form, while this pass found no equivalent statement from Baucke.

Ian J. Baucke

Ian J. Baucke is 27 years old. They are a district representative for State Senator Monique Limón. Their father, John Baucke, is a longtime Planning Commissioner. Baucke chairs a Transportation and Circulation Committee, according to local reporting. They are endorsed by the Santa Barbara County Democratic Party. They campaign on housing affordability. Local coverage describes them as the leading candidate in this race.

James G. Zurlinden

James G. Zurlinden is a political newcomer. He is a former chef who now works in finance. He says he wants to represent voters who "feel like they don't have a voice." He supports reopening State Street to cars. He also supports a rent-stabilization measure for struggling families.

Cevin Cathell

Margaret "Cevin" Cathell is a political newcomer. She is a film producer and a longtime local volunteer. She says she is concerned about polarization on the Council. She is skeptical of rent stabilization. She is open to testing some car traffic again on State Street.

Your pick

A nonpartisan office: candidates do not run as Democrats or Republicans, and no party appears on the ballot.

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