Easton to Announce Candidacy in Goleta

Ed Easton will be announcing his candidacy tomorrow and here's part of his press advisory...he's someone I consider a very strong candidate for one of the two spots available in November. Let's see how he does in the months leading to the election. -- Sara

Easton, a Goleta Planning Commissioner, former member of the Goleta Design Review Board, and the Old Town Project Advisory Committee, is running on a platform of returning common sense principles of slow growth, neighborhood and environmental protection to the Council.

"I believe my forty-two year record of local and national environmental leadership, planning and architectural experience have prepared me to be a voice for slow, measured growth and sound planning on the Goleta City Council." said Easton.

Easton's platform includes:

· Putting residents concerns first. Easton will listen to citizens of Goleta, not special interests that want to avoid city control of development. He will protect the General Plan.

· Preserving neighborhood character. Our neighborhoods, like Old Town and Ellwood Beach, are unique and should be protected from over development such as "Big Box" stores and their inevitable traffic impacts.

· Environmental Protection. Preserving our last remaining open spaces, public beaches and agricultural lands will be a top priority.

· Protecting Public Safety. The recent Gap Fire was a strong reminder of the critical work performed by our community's first responders. As a former regional planning director and long time environmental leader, Easton knows that one of the best ways to protect Goleta from a future disaster is to preserve agricultural land and prevent runaway urban sprawl.

· Negotiate a fair and reasoned Revenue Neutrality Agreement. Rather than threatening and insulting county and regional leaders, Ed will bring common sense and a balanced approach to these important discussions. Leadership requires listening, and Ed is committed to negotiating an agreement that fairly compensates Goleta without harming existing relationships with the County

Graduating from Yale University with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and a Masters in Architecture, Easton was licensed as an architect, and later served as Director of Planning for the Regional Council of Local Governments in Charlotte NC. Easton then accepted a visiting professorship at the University of North Carolina, where he taught architecture.

For the past thirty years Ed has worked in different capacities for environmental groups such as the Sierra Club and the National Wildlife Federation, then created the Institute for Conservation Leadership with multiple grants from the Pew Charitable Trusts as well as other foundations. Easton was CEO of the Institute for six years.

Ed has lived in Goleta for eight years, where he has used his architectural background to renovate a 1913 California bungalow in Old Town Goleta. In addition to his service on the Planning Commission where he was its first Chairman, the Design Review Board and the Old Town Project Advisory Committee, Ed has also been active locally with the Sierra Club as Santa Barbara Group Secretary, then Chair and Conservation Chair. He is also a Board Member of the Gaviota Coast Conservancy, and founded Friends of Coal Oil Point Reserve, where he continues to serve as a Snowy Plover docent.

Ed is the proud father of two adult sons, and lives with his wife of forty-nine years in Old Town. He became a grandfather for the first time in January of 2007.