Two candidates are competing to represent District 4 on the Santa Barbara City Council this November, as a local developer and planning commissioner takes on an incumbent that has battled through a tough first term.
District 4 covers everything from the Foothills to Eucalyptus Hill, as well as the Upper East Side and the Riviera. This area can be considered one of the wealthier areas of the city, with the cost of homes on average ranging from about $1.5 to $6 million. Santa Barbara shifted to district elections in 2015, following a lawsuit against the city that alleged at-large elections often allowed for those in the more affluent areas to run for office, leaving unheard the voices of lower-income and Hispanic residents living in other neighborhoods.