Few people realize that not one of the five current Goleta City Council members faced opposition to win his or her current term. Here’s how this curious and unprecedented condition happened: Councilmembers Michael Bennett, Roger Aceves, and Paula Perotte were unopposed in their 2014 elections; Councilmember Jim Farr was unopposed in 2012; and Councilmember Vallejo was appointed in July 2014 to fill the seat of resigning councilmember Ed Easton.
Different theories have been suggested for why these councilmembers ran with no competition. One theory is that the candidate shortage is based on a belief that it doesn’t matter who is on Goleta’s Council. Some have believed claims that all Goleta development is dictated only by the city's General Plan and that city councilmembers have no role or power in determining Goleta’s development. But a review of how development happens here demonstrates the very opposite.
Yes, Goleta has a General Plan that outlines what development might happen over a 20-year period. But, in fact, much of what and how development is approved is largely controlled by Goleta’s City Council because the General Plan is just that, general. It is a high level outline, not a detailed design or a blueprint. (See Government Code Section 65300-65303.4.)