A Vitally Important Race

Over the past months I have attended five of the candidate forums for Santa Barbara County’s 3rd District Supervisor race. Some may wonder whether I have nothing better to do with my evenings. Truth is, I believe this race is vitally important to the 3rd District and all of Santa Barbara County.

In particular, I am interested in not only what the candidates are saying, but whether they are growing in their grasp and understanding of the complexity of issues and nuances as they relate to communities as diverse as Guadalupe, Vandenberg Village, Los Alamos, the Santa Ynez Valley, west Goleta, and Isla Vista.

Personal growth requires a willingness and commitment to put in the time, week after week, so to dig deeper to discover points of intersection where solutions and common ground can be forged. While I acknowledge each of the candidates for stepping up in this race to be seen and heard, I absolutely believe only one candidate has shown the kind of growth for which I am looking. Only one has demonstrated the character, skills, persistence, and resilience to balance the interests and needs of our 3rd District while committing to promote and safeguard what we love and cherish most about Santa Barbara County. Please join me in electing the best, most qualified and hard-working candidate to serve us — Joan Hartmann.