After much handwringing and hemming-and-hawing, former Santa Barbara city councilmember Randy Rowse announced he will be running for mayor in this November’s race. “I’m doing it,” Rowse declared.
With 40 years in the restaurant business and 10 years on the council, Rowse is positioning himself as the voice of moderation and experience. He is also highlighting his lack of party affiliation, stating, “I’m not sure what party politics has to do with filling potholes.”
The three other candidates now running — incumbent Mayor Cathy Murillo, James Joyce III, and Planning Commissioner Deborah Schwartz — boast strong Democratic Party credentials. In this context, Rowse would present a clear alternative to their various hues of blue.