Editorial by Gwyn Lurie Gwyn Lurie is the CEO of The Montecito Journal Media Group and the Executive Editor of the Montecito Journal. She served on the Montecito Union School Board for eight years, including five years as Chair. Gwyn is the former Chair of Santa Barbara County Child Welfare Safety Net Task Force. She and her family have been residents of Montecito for more than 10 years.
My Two Cents
B
y all accounts, Monday night’s candidate debate at Hahn Hall was a rousing success. Over 300 of Montecito’s finest showed up and packed the house to hear First District Supervisor Das Williams and challenger Laura Capps respond to questions from community leaders and to hear the candidates make their case why he or she should get our vote in the upcoming election. We tend to see political debates as a gladiator sport, and want to walk away with a clear winner. In that regard Monday night’s debate may have been less than satisfying. I’m not sure anyone who arrived as a Das or Laura supporter left changed, myself included. If there was any winner last night, it was Montecito. Having run for political office and participated in political debates (UCLA Student Body President, Montecito Union School Board), I know that candidates have good nights and bad nights. And sometimes, the best campaigners are not the best leaders and vice versa. Laura came off stronger in the first half of the debate, hitting on important issues such as integrity, the need for election reform, and how cannabis – no matter how you feel about the crop – has highjacked the focus of our county government at the expense of other important planning-related issues, such as traffic, public safety, environmental resilience, infrastructure, etc. On the other hand, Das had a stronger second half, as evidenced by the round of applause he evoked via his strong answer regarding traffic, and his assertion that the southbound freeway entrance at Hot Springs should be reopened. One cannot overstate the impact Montecito’s traffic issues are having on the lives of residents and businesses alike. Das has spent years in public office at the state
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