Independent Endorsements Questioned

I've heard more than a few candidates question The Indy's endorsements this year -- especially since Indy management apparently did not conduct interviews with all candidates. To be fair, I don't know if they interviewed anyone. Still, either course of action would be a marked change in policy from more years than I can remember.

There has always been a ringer in The Indy endorsement that is a bit of a surprise. This year one might look at the SB School District race where Annette Cordero has hardly campaigned and two other candidates who are hardly known are getting the nod over State Superintendent Jack O'Connell and Rep. Lois Capps endorsed Ed Heron. Cordero, who deserves another term, does not look like she wants it. Heron, who is too polite to be one of the ones who wrote to me, is someone I have been watching because of his broad-based, bi-partisan support.

In the Carpinteria City Council race non-endorsement endorsement, they say that Joe Armendariz has brought "intelligence, civility, good faith, and common sense to the [Carpinteria City] Council proceedings." Their reasons for endorsing the other candidates were good but their positive reasons for not endorsing Armendariz don't make sense.

Has the polarization witnessed by otherwise God-fearing people on the national level trickled down to Santa Barbara like so many tax breaks for the rich? Errr, maybe not as they never trickle down but you get my point....this hurts to say as I have good friends at The Independent but doesn't The Indy not interviewing candidates make them no better than COLAB endorsing Tony Strickland?

Sierra Club Announces Endorsements

Sierra Club endorsements just announced this morning. -- Sara

Today Fran Farina, the Co-chair of the Sierra Club’s Los Padres Chapter Political Committee, announced the Chapter’s endorsements of candidates in local races.

• Congress – Lois Capps
• California State Senate – Hannah-Beth Jackson
• California State Assembly – Pedro Nava
• Santa Barbara County 3rd District Supervisor – Doreen Farr
• Goleta City Council – Margaret Connell and Ed Easton
• Goleta Water District – Lauren Hanson, Bill Rosen, and Jim Marino
• Carpinteria City Council – Chuck McQuary and Kathleen Reddington

In announcing the endorsement, Ms. Farina said, “We are pleased to endorse candidates who have demonstrated leadership on the issues our Chapter cares about most - the growing challenges with land use, water availability, coastal protection and energy development.”

The Los Padres Chapter of Sierra Club urges all of its members to be actively involved in local elections, especially the upcoming November 4th election.

To learn more or to become involved, please see the local website http://lospadres.sierraclub.org/.