Das Future

Last week’s cover story on Assemblymember Das Williams repeatedly referred to his “ambition.” I’m puzzled as to why. He became active in politics as a teenager, and worked for many years both locally and at the state level, as staff to then Assemblymember Hannah-Beth Jackson. So his decision to run for Santa Barbara City Council in his early thirties was hardly unsupported by experience or a rush to a position of power. He moved on to the Assembly after seven years, a logical next step for someone soon to be termed out. Is Monique Limón ambitious for wanting to make the same move from the School Board?

Now Williams is actually choosing to come back to local service, running for 1st District Supervisor, rather than aiming “higher,” at the congressional seat being vacated by Lois Capps. How does that trajectory indicate the kind of ambition that your story feels compelled to reiterate?

Is a commitment to lifelong public service a form of ambition? If so, I’m all for it.