I have, from the beginning, been an enthusiastic Randy Rowse for Mayor supporter. I also felt that sooner or later this mayor’s race would go down the ragged, ugly path where it is unfortunately headed. And suddenly, here we are.
There are some fine people in this race. I may not agree with all of them, but I trust that their reasons for running are honorable. But that, apparently, isn’t enough for some folks. Extreme partisanship is fueling the need to paint anyone not in line with local party politics as “the other.” They are trying to scare local voters about other candidates because the current mayor cannot win on her record. They are proving the point we have been trying to make: Partisanship is destroying Santa Barbara’s political dialogue. It is desperate and disgraceful.
It is particularly galling that after a relentless whisper campaign against Randy and the other challengers, the incumbent’s campaign is whining about a “campaign of disinformation” against them. It is Orwellian trash.