Big Money Already Blowing in City Races

The first campaign finance reports for the City of Santa Barbara council race came in loud, gaudy, fast, and loaded. In the five-way race for mayor, political newcomer Angel Martinez, former CEO of Deckers, reported the most at $107,775, nearly half of which ​— ​$50,000 ​— ​he gave himself. Two-term councilmember candidate Cathy Murillo, favorite of the Democratic Central Committee, raised $91,000 this year and $21,840 in 2016 after she announced. Two-term councilmember Frank Hotchkiss, the only card-carrying Republican in the race and an avowed conservative at that, raised $46,000. Hal Conklin, who served four terms on council and a year as mayor 25 years ago, raised $28,000, of which $20,000 he loaned himself. Councilmember Bendy White, now completing his second term, just jumped in and has raised nothing but the $7,200 left over from his last City Council race.

Of the council candidates, incumbent Gregg Hart, running for the downtown district, has raised the most, $111,000. He’s running against Jack Ucciferri, who to date has reported nothing. James Scafide, an attorney backed by the Democratic Central Committee and onetime mayor in eastern Ohio, raised $25,000 in his bid for District Four, representing the Riviera. He’s running against Republican Planning Commissioner Jay Higgins, who has raised $20,000, and against Kristen Sneddon, who teaches geology at Santa Barbara Community College ​— ​and is the daughter-in-law of former district attorney Tom Sneddon. Running for the San Roque district is Eric Friedman, who raised $52,000, and Warner McGrew, former City of Santa Barbara fire chief, who raised $12,000.

Editor’s Note: This story was changed to add Cathy Murillo’s 2016 finance information.