Santa Barbara’s former representative in the Statehouse – Democrat Jack O’Connell – got a $1 million nudge from Netflix founder Reed Hastings to run for governor in 2010. O’Connell, now the state schools superintendent, has long been rumored to be considering a gubernatorial bid. Hastings, who’s bankrolled several high-profile educational initiatives in recent years, made his donation to one of O’Connell’s independent expenditure committees.
