Unions Against Measure A

The City of Santa Barbara’s police and firefighters’ unions have come out against Measure A, the citywide ballot initiative that would move Santa Barbara’s municipal elections from odd years to even years. Measure A supporters contend that turnout would double if the city’s elections coincided with state and national elections. Union reps contend that the unique character of Santa Barbara politics would be subordinated to the strong partisan pull of statewide and national campaigns if Measure A were to pass.