Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider issued a press release announcing she’d been endorsed by a group of prominent gay and lesbian rights advocates as part of her campaign for the 24th Congressional District. Santa Barbara’s representative for the past 17 years has been Democrat Lois Capps, who is retiring. Backing Schneider were David Selberg, former head of Pacific Pride, LGBT activist Steve Warner, Studio One owner Robert Johns, and Jill Shalhoob, owner of Jill’s Place. Schneider noted that June is Gay Pride month, and her endorsers cited her support for gay marriage and equal rights.
