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Weekly awards. Kudos to Jay Higgins, Jim Scafide and Kristen Sneddon, the trio of high-quality candidates competing for city council in the expansive Fourth District, who sat down together Thursday night for a spirited half-hour of conversation and questioning on Newsmakers-TV. In a discussion dominated by, what else, housing, significant differences emerged among the three on: Measure C, the proposed one-cent sales tax on the November 7 ballot; the equity of the city’s short-term rental law; the importance of millennial housing in and around Macy's, as well on matters of temperament. The show, produced by Hap Freund, will be available for viewing shortly. Will advise, UPDATE: Here's the video: Hack and flacks. Directly before the District 4 round table, Laura Capps, Nick Welsh, Josh Molina and Brooke Holland joined Jerry for a hacks and flacks confabulation, kicking around the campaign, the latest developments on DACA and Nick’s in-depth report, in the just-out Indy, about the innovative new Integrated Care Clinic on West Anapamu, which focuses on treating street people afflicted with mental illness, addiction and acute medical issues. More: Josh's analysis of the unintended consequences of the local Democratic Party’s failed efforts to clear the field for favored candidates with early endorsements, Laura's inside view of school district actions to protect staff and students from the threat posed by Trump and his right-wing departments of Justice and Homeland Security, and, the poisonous and terrifying atmosphere they've set upon the land over immigration: Brooke's report on a dismaying teach-in event at SBCC, in which undocumented students, concealed behind curtains, recounted in disembodied voices the dread and foreboding that shape their lives since our 46 percent president cancelled DACA, screwing over hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and now want to work. Watch this space for You Tube link after final edit of Newsmakers Hack and Flacks wraps. Thanks for waiting: here it is: Cancel that latte. District 5 council candidate Eric Friedman emails to say we got it wrong, in our report on the big housing forum last week, by describing him as “slightly over-caffeinated.” "For the record, I don't drink caffeine, especially coffee," Friedman writes, punctuating the note with an oddball smiling emoji which unfortunately I've been unable to replicate. Happily, Friedman also reported that he got his shift changed at Trader Joe’s and will be able to make a face-to-face sit down with opponent Warner McGrew on Oct. 5 on our show. Last man on Earth. Aaron Solis, on the ballot in District 5, and the eighth and last candidate to respond to our invitation to appear with his rivals on Newsmakers – the seven others all accepted – sends word that he won’t be able to join Friedman and McGrew, because he’ll be in Chicago. All righty then. Solis also was the only district council candidate MIA at the Sept. 14 Coastal Housing Coalition event. Turns out, however, he was in attendance, but chose to watch the game from the cheap seats. "I was there in the audience,” says Aaron. "I didn't know about it until a few days before (saw a Facebook post about it). I was at a school event that (sic) left to head to the Vic, so I didn't get there until a little after 4pm, and then I had to leave about 5:30 to get back to the school event. “ As Woody Allen either did or did not say, eighty percent of success is showing up. Bottom line. Voice/Casa magazine is the latest local media organization to join the ad hoc collection of dead tree publications, online operations and public access TV producing special coverage of the Nov, 7 municipal election, in an effort to boost voter interest, registration and turnout, at a time when local politics grows increasingly important because…Trump. Voice Magazine joins the Independent, TVSB and Newsmakers in committing resources to the public interest project. More recommended reading: the Chamber’s outstanding Q&A interrogations with the candidates, which chief honcho Ken Oplinger has had posted. Their mayoral print interviews (minus Bendy White, who didn’t become a candidate until after the questionnaires went out) can be found here and the district council contenders’ answers are here, here and here, Off to Cachuma for grandkid birthday camping celebration. Hmm. Have a great weekend. FAQs: Who can vote? All Santa Barbara voters are eligible to cast a ballot for mayor. Those in Districts 4, 5 & 6 also will be able to vote for a city council representative. What district am I in? Here is link that will help lead you to your council district (they really need a simpler “what city council district do I live in?" search function). Huh? Here is a map that shows the districts (may load slowly).. Sorry, I'm not a visual learner. Here is a head-scratching boundary description of each district. Isn't there just somebody I can call? Here is the Santa Barbara Registrar of Voters information page on the election, including how to reach them. When is the election? Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. BUT REMEMBER this is entirely a vote by mail deal and... ...Mail-in ballots are to be sent out Oct. 9, 2017. BE CAREFUL NOT TO THROW OUT YOUR BALLOT, thinking it’s just more campaign junk mail. Deadline to register is Oct. 23. Who's running? The best overviews of the non-mayoral council races are here, here and here. JR Photos: Jim Scafide, Kristen Sneddon, Jerry Roberts, Jay Higgins (l-r); Laura Capps; Eric Friedman; Woody Allen. Email us at newsmakerswithjr@gmail.com or comment on our stories on our Facebook page - SB City Desk. Thanks for reading.

Bendy White is up with a new, 30-second spot that positions him as the historic heir to Santa Barbara’s environmental stewardship, a tactical challenge to the early advertising strategy of mayoral rival Angel Martinez. “I grew up in Santa Barbara,” White says to start the ad, speaking over a sepia-toned newspaper clipping that pictures five-year Bendy celebrating a long-ago Fiesta in sombrero and poncho. “I'm on TV, have been on KSBY since Monday, starting KEYT today, cable tomorrow,” Bendy told Newsmakers. As a political matter, White’s early TV move is significant, not only in answering the ad barrage of the Martinez campaign, but also in allaying questions that had been raised about Bendy's ability to compete financially in the five-person race. Both Martinez, the wealthy former CEO of Deckers, who is partly self-funding, and fellow council member Cathy Murillo, who has been raising money for nearly a year, aided by the early endorsement of the local Democratic Party, last month reported having raised more than $100,000 for the race. White, who waited until the last minute to get in, reported only $7,200, left from his previous council race four years ago. “Fundraising is going exceedingly well,” he said Wednesday, via email. “I'll let you wait until the next report is due (Sept. 28) for the total, but I'm sure it will show me competitive with Cathy and Angel.” The ad was produced by the talented Brent Sumner of Studio 8. Among the cameos are Mayor Helene Schneider; council member and ally Jason Dominguez (one keen observer had two sightings); the desal plant (multiple perspectives); the Courthouse Spirit of the Ocean Fountain, plus multiple beauty shots of the waterfront, the park at Veronica Meadows and Bendy's wife and grandkids. Ex-mayor Hal Conklin and council member Frank Hotchkiss also are running. The ad is on You Tube here. Win Big Prizes! Campaign quiz: First correct answer to the following question emailed to us at newsmakerswithjr@gmail.com wins their very own, extremely rare, TV Santa Barbara mug. As seen on our set! How did Harwood “Bendy” White get his nickname? a) He fell out of a tree as a kid, fracturing his elbow into a grotesquely twisted shape. b) His parents had an early inkling of his political flexibility. c) He shares a birthday with Benjamin Franklin. d) He was the best contortionist in gym class. e) He hates wearing belts and always chooses pants with elastic waistbands. Don’t wait – enter now! JR Email us at newsmakerswithjr@gmail.com or comment on our stories on our Facebook page - SB City Desk. Thanks for reading.

A feminist prelude. There are two critical points worth noting within the 201 words of Section 504 of Santa Barbara’s City Charter, which defines the office, duties and powers of its Mayor: “He shall be the official head of the city for ceremonial purposes,” reads one clause of the 1967 charter section, using the male gender pronoun that pops up five times in six sentences. This in a town where women have held the mayor’s office for 35 of the last 36 years. “Reading this section gave me a curious feeling,” former Mayor Sheila Lodge recalled, archly. Some actual facts. The second item about the office of mayor is even more noteworthy: the gig comes with not much overt power. In our weak mayor system, the City Administrator runs things day-to-day (ever mindful, of course, of the mayor and council’s prerogative to fire him. Or, who knows, someday, maybe her). Here is a complete list of the SB’s mayor’s charter-mandated duties: Preside over City Council meetings. Cast her own vote - but no veto power. “Official head of the City for all ceremonial purposes." “Primary but not exclusive responsibility for interpreting the policies, programs and needs of the city government to the people." ”May inform the people of any change in policy or program.” “Does anybody really believe that the day-to-day life of the average person in Santa Barbara is dependent on who is elected mayor?” Bill Clausen, a prolific presence on local comment boards and social media, groused over at an interesting discussion on the Indy’s site one day last week. "Dependent?" No. "Impacted, influenced and changed?" Yes, yes and yes. What’s at stake. The 2017 municipal election may be the most consequential in years for three key reasons: the state of the economy, the cacophony of conflict over housing policy, and seismic shifts in political power. At a time when the city’s political landscape and demographics are changing dramatically, the next mayor and council face huge challenges in shaping and ensuring the stability of the local economy for the next several decades. “It actually matters more who’s Mayor now than before district elections,” said Ken Oplinger, president and CEO of the (all rise) Chamber of the Santa Barbara Region (which recently endorsed Angel Martinez in the mayor’s race). “The mayor is the only elected official who represents the city as a whole, setting aside petty inner-district issues for what is going to benefit our community in general.” As a practical matter, anyone who uses or pays for streets, roads, police officers, firefighters, public schools, parks, water or indoor plumbing has a direct stake in the outcome of the campaign. From Amazon to Uber, technology has undermined and sapped a retail business model that has helped sustain Santa Barbara since Paseo Nuevo was constructed in the 1980s, through decades when La Cumbre Plaza's now failing anchor tenants Sears and Macy’s (aka. J. W. Robinson’s) actually thrived. The Funk Zone may represent a small, if happy and charming, business success story, but the city still struggles with a retrograde and short-sighted approach to the fast-advancing sharing economy, and managing the local impact of global economic change. Ban Airbnb! Next up: City Hall declares Sundowner winds illegal. Gimme shelter. The astonishing cost of housing, here and throughout coastal California, restricts the ability of local businesses to recruit employees, while forcing long commutes on nurses, first responders, teachers, students and tourist industry service workers, among others in a priced-out middle class. Santa Barbara’s endless and intractable debate about housing – how much to build, for how much and where to put it, while preserving cherished neighborhoods and venerated architectural character - is a simmering stew of rights and responsibilities in conflict. A raft of legislation just passed in Sacramento to mandate thousands of new units of “affordable” housing is certain to bring new complications, and new passion, to the discussion. None of this is to mention other far-reaching issues: Trump-inflamed disquiet over race and immigration; the city treasury’s $250 million in unfunded pension liability; a disputed proposed sales tax increase on the ballot, or a backlog of public works maintenance and infrastructure improvement projects. For starters. Hyper-local idiosyncrasies. Come January, the new mayor will be the only official elected across the whole city; the other six council members all will have been chosen by districts, slivers of adjoining neighborhoods with roughly 14,000 residents each (the number of registered voters varies widely). Mayor Helene Schneider and her council colleagues got squeezed into changing the city’s longtime at-large election system into a six-district arrangement back in 2015, under threat of litigation, owing to the stark underrepresentation of Latinos in city government (a problem that this year’s three district contests won’t improve a whit). Every district council member doubtless will delight to tell you that she or he, naturally, has the best interests of the entire city at heart. It’s a plain, cold political fact, however, that each one of the six also will be besieged by hyper-local and idiosyncratic demands and needs that increasingly will infuse debate at City Hall – precisely at a time when Santa Barbara urgently needs to move forward based on communitarian, not parochial, values. The meeting will come to order. The next mayor should possess, not only policy knowledge, but also the political and collaborative skills necessary to shape consensus in identifying crucial priorities for the future. A big dollop of leadership to help craft a strategy and tactics for achieving these goals wouldn’t hurt, either. The challenges start with the mayor’s first charter-mandated duty: presiding over council meetings. It’s a deceptively simple assignment, in an historic town with more contending interests, red tape, rules, regulations, policies, procedures , NIMBY neighbors and bureaucratic protocols to be found anywhere outside the sovereign nation of Italy. “Most importantly the mayor needs to know how to run a meeting.” said Oplinger of the Chamber of Commerce. “In a city as process-driven as Santa Barbara is, the person with the gavel needs to be able to conduct a meeting in a way that is both efficient and inclusive, a skill few possess.” A brief Helene interlude. Incumbent Mayor Schneider, who’s backing Bendy White, has 177 well-chosen words to underscore the importance of this subject: “Running the meeting doesn’t just happen. It takes focus and it takes work." "I think people who’ve been in office before, especially in city government, know how the process works; you try to walk that tightrope. But if you haven’t been part of the process, it’s going to be an eye opener.” “You try to listen to what everyone else is saying and, if there’s a difference of opinion on an issue, then try to consolidate the thought and come up with a suggestion or a motion that will pass. “You can lead the discussion that way, and you have to do it in a way that's respectful, even if you might disagree with the members on the issue. You’re still one of seven votes, so if you want to try to push an argument one particular way, or win an argument one particular way, you have that role to play. But at the end of the day, I find that the mayor’s really the person who tries to get something to happen. And setting that tone’s important." Bottom line. Beyond council chairing, the charter’s loosely drawn duties for the mayor (see above, numbers 4 & 5, especially) in fact offer plenty of running room for a smart, ambitious, energetic politician, with strong communication skills and the public interest at heart, to exercise strong leadership. “Because the role of the mayor carries with it a certain aura, the mayor can use her position to lead and educate the community, to successfully advocate for what is best for the city as a whole,” former Mayor Lodge told me. “When I was first elected mayor I was surprised to find that people thought this gave me a lot more power, although I still had just one vote and no veto power,” she added. “This belief in effect gave me power.” So there’s that. JR Email us at newsmakerswithjr@gmail.com or comment on our stories on our Facebook page - SB City Desk. Thanks for reading. Images: Former Mayor Sheila Lodge (Paul Wellman, SB Independent); Ken Oplinger, SB Chamber of Commerce; Cartoon people arguing; Map of Santa Barbara City Council districts; Mayor Helene Schneider (Paul Wellman, SB Independent); Seal of the City of Santa Barbara.

Seven of the eight candidates running for new district seats on the Santa Barbara City Council have accepted invites for face-to-face televised sit-downs with their foes on Newsmakers TV. The key dates: Sept. 21. All three candidates from the closely contested race in District 4 – Jay Higgins, Jim Scarfide and Kristen Sneddon – have agreed to appear together for a conversation with Jerry, to discuss their political beliefs, the micro-local issues of their district and, oh yeah, the future of the city. As always, following post-production work by our dedicated TVSB staff, the show will be posted about 24 hours later, on our You Tube channel and the TVSB site, while also showing endlessly on Channel 17. Oct, 5, At least the top two candidates in District 5 – Warner McGrew and Eric Friedman - will bring their contrasting styles into the studio. Aaron Solis, the third candidate in the contest, by post time had not responded to several email invites. (One caveat; workin’ family man Friedman currently has a scheduled shift at Trader Joe’s that conflicts with his date with Warner, but we’re confident it will get worked out). Oct. 19. (Updated with Hart acceptance) Insurgent challenger Jack Ucciferri has confirmed that he'll be there for a head-to-head with incumbent Gregg Hart, who graciously accepted moments after the early edition of our piece posted.** “We are encouraged that these district council candidates are willing to speak directly to voters by participating on Newsmakers,” said Hap Freund co-producer of the program. “Their comments and interviews with Jerry will be accessible to the community on our website, on YouTube and on Channel 17 until the election.” FAQs: Who can vote? All Santa Barbara voters are eligible to cast a ballot for mayor. Those in Districts 4, 5 & 6 also will be able to vote for a city council representative. What district am I in? Here is link that will help lead you to your council district (they really need a simpler “what city council district do I live in?" search function). Huh? Here is a map that shows the districts (may load slowly).. Sorry, I'm not a visual learner. Here is a head-scratching boundary description of each district. Isn't there just somebody I can call? Here is the Santa Barbara Registrar of Voters information page on the election, including how to reach them. When is the election? Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. BUT REMEMBER this is entirely a vote by mail deal and... ...Mail-in ballots are to be sent out Oct. 9, 2017. BE CAREFUL NOT TO THROW OUT YOUR BALLOT, thinking it’s just more campaign junk mail. Deadline to register is Oct. 23. Who's running? The best overviews of the non-mayoral council races are here, here and here. Bottom line. In partnership with TVSB and the Independent, Newsmakers is providing special coverage of the 2017 municipal election, in an effort to boost voter turnout and registration, at a time when local politics increasingly is in the spotlight because, well...Trump. We’ll keep you updated on the air times and links to our You Tube page next week. The Newsmakers site and TVSB currently feature half-hour one-on-one interviews with the five mayoral candidates ** (Sources say Hart's late-breaking acceptance ensures he will not be represented by Resusci Annie (right), which had been the Newsmakers contingency plan). JR Email us at newsmakerswithjr@gmail.com or join the conversation about our stories on our Facebook page - SB City Desk. Thanks for reading.

Willie Brown, California’s iconic guru of gut-punch politics, always drills candidates on the first rule of campaigning: Never forget to ask for their vote. It seems simple enough, but it’s remarkable how many entrants neglect this protocol, which manifests the fundamental psychological dynamic that shapes elections: The candidate is a job applicant who owes their would-be boss the respect and courtesy of asking to be hired. At the New Vic on Thursday night, where 10 contenders for mayor and city council spent two hours talking housing for a crowd of about 150, exactly one – 1, count ‘em, 1 – candidate solicited the gig. “I’m running for mayor, and I ask for your vote,” said council member Cathy Murillo. How the deal went down. On a night when politicking took a back-of-the-bus seat to policy buzzwords – from the AUD and ADUs to SBCAG and the RHNA – ringmaster Dave Davis handled moderator duty with skill, insight and ursine joviality. Josh Molina has an excellent blow-by-blow over at Noozhawk that captures the policy discussion. Despite appearances, the event was not a breakout session of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials convention, however, but rather the first opportunity for Actual Voters to see the candidates up-close-and-personal. For those 48,377 registered voters who couldn’t make it, here’s a look at how the field did: MAYORAL MATCHUP Angel Martinez. In his first appearance sharing a stage with his rivals, the Shoe King delivered as advertised: smart, smooth and articulate – but his delivery was so low-key that the clear and crucial contrast between him and his rivals -- City Hall creatures all -- often got lost in the collective murmur about “maximum allowable density capacities” and “unbundled parking.” His best moments came when he tagged himself “the only employer” running and displayed common sense perspective to the tangled political struggle over housing (“every project cannot stand alone and meet every need’), but his riff on how the process of designing a successful shoe applies to economic development in Santa Barbara needs work. Grade: A- Bendy White. There’s no question that Harwood, who’s been working on this stuff in city government for 30 years, knows more than anyone running about the processes, procedures and maddeningly intricate details of policy-making. But he’s sometimes so deep in the weeds, not to mention the woods, that a voter wishes he'd step back and frame the overall issue in a plain and simple way for those who don’t follow this stuff. Bendy’s strengths come from a) the authentic voice with which he says things like “Santa Barbara is a jewel,” and speaks of “stewardship” from the sincere perspective of someone whose historic family has been around since the 19th century and; b) his appreciation that the key to being successful as mayor is assembling a council majority that actually passes legislation, a point he should pound a little, highlighting his proven skill at counting to four as a talent that differentiates him from the pack. Grade: B+ Cathy Murillo. The Machine Candidate's best moment was her closing statement ask for votes. Before then, however, there was too much prattling about process, as she ticked off all the boards, committees, commissions, task forces, community workshops and regional cooperatives that she serves on or has visited. When she lacked talking points, as she apparently did when asked about the economy in an Amazon-Uber future, she sometimes verged on incoherence: “No matter how good our technology gets, we’re going to eat our ice cream.” Grade B-. Hal Conklin. Smilin’ Hal took the biggest swings at many questions, combining historic analysis drawn from his role in ancient political wars with buoyant language about the future and “an exciting vision about tomorrow.” Conklin’s promise to craft policy from the grassroots up – every project must “pass the community smell test,” he says – is well and good, but his old school vest and tie look made it feel like he’d just arrived on a time transport from 1995. Grade: B CITY COUNCIL (The Indy published the best overview to date of the council districts and candidates, which is here. Josh’s piece is also comprehensive). 4th District Kristen Sneddon. Sneddon was the “Newsmakers” breakout contestant of the night. An environmental scientist, teacher and working mother, she displayed an appealing ability to address complicated policy matters in a way that speaks to the real lives of real families, relating on a human level by recounting her life experience as a waitress, student and parent. Amid the clamor for more millennial housing all around her, Sneddon broke it down from the viewpoint of one who sits in a line of cars every day to drop off and pick up kids – “Put family housing near schools,” she said. She got out a little bit over her skis, however, when she needlessly suggested she might support rent control down the line (“I’m not going to come out for rent control right now”). Grade A- Jim Scafide. His buttoned-down lawyer look, tone and manner befit his ability to marshal an argument and lay out the facts of an issue. But spotlighting his experience as the mayor of “a small town in Ohio” clunked with an audience of people who spend their time congratulating themselves and each other for being smart enough to live here. He’s the early favorite, due in part to the Democratic Party and other big endorsements, but high-profile women Democrats, from Hannah-Beth and Helene to Susan Rose and Laura Capps are creating buzz for Sneddon. Grade: B. Jay Higgins. Higgins usually provided the most direct and concise answers to Davis’s questions, but as a Planning Commissioner, who spends his days up to his eyeballs in the minutiae of permit expediting procedures, he relied too much on planner-speak. He had a strong opening, when he visibly framed the opinions of the audience by asking for a show of hands on a series of basic questions, but later retreated into institutional perspective. And that Chuck Schumer, peering over the reading glasses look doesn’t help him. Grade: B. District 5. Warner McGrew. The retired fire chief is solid, stolid and clearly cares about the community – why else would someone like him want this job? – and his political appeal lies in his avuncular and open-minded manner. He sometimes displayed less mastery of material than others on policy complexities, but his public safety knowledge, prudence and judgment are a big plus. Grade: B. Eric Friedman. The former aide to Salud Carbajal – young, tall, quick, if slightly over-caffeinated – is a sharp contrast to McGrew. He broke through with a smart and funny disquisition on housing legislation being passed in Sacramento this week that will dump a load of new mandates on we here in paradise, by comparing Jerry Brown and the state to “The Terminator -- it keeps coming.” Grade: B+. District 6 Jack Ucciferri . Ucciferri is a realtor who’s running against Gregg Hart, the only incumbent on the ballot for a district seat, and who was a no-show. The challenger’s basic rap notes that the 6th is “the youngest district,” nicely connecting its voters to the debate over millennial housing and the sharing economy. But he’s got an uphill slog against Hart, who has little to gain from appearing on the same platform with the new guy, but might want to show up once in awhile, just to hear what’s being said about him. Grade: C. Bottom line. The tone, process and scale of retail politics in Santa Barbara are special. Davis began the event by thanking the candidates for running – “It takes tremendous personal courage (and) you are what makes this community” -- a nice and well-deserved shout-out. Which means the only losers of the night were the ones who didn’t show – Hart and fellow council member Frank Hotchkiss, who’s running for mayor, and 5th district wannabe Aaron Solis. Stay tuned. JR Email us at newsmakerswithjr@gmail.com or comment on our stories on our Facebook page - SB City Desk. Thanks for reading.

A few weeks ago, Hal Conklin’s mayoral campaign heralded endorsements from several dozen Christian “faith leaders and members.” The press release quoted the Rev. Dr. Denny Wayman, Superintendent of the Free Methodist Church (FMC), where Conklin worships: “I am confident,” Wayman said, “that Hal will create the environment where human and spiritual values can thrive.” Which raised an intriguing question: Whose spiritual values? The politics of religion. Conklin’s religious endorsements are not surprising. Prominent in his local church, on the Mesa, he also ranks high in the FMC’s national hierarchy, as Chairman of its Board of Administration. And he shares his “Christian worldview” widely, through “Cinema in Focus,” a column co-written with Rev. Wayman, presenting film reviews as “spiritual and social commentary.” More surprising, however, was a perusal of a recent edition of the FMC's "Book of Discipline," described on the national organization’s website as its “official statement of doctrine and governance.” Distinct from the United Methodist Church, FMC is a smaller denomination, headquartered in Indianapolis. Sections of its stated ideology align with conservative Christian activists spurring the fiercely contested Republican push in Washington to undo laws and regulations governing abortion rights,, among other volatile cultural issues. According to the Book of Discipline: Abortion “must be judged to be a violation of God’s command, ‘You shall not commit murder,’” except to save the life of a mother (Section 3222). Gay marriage is proscribed and “homosexual intimacy” is “immoral,” included on a list of “unnatural sexual behavior such as incestuous abuse, child molestation, homosexual activity and prostitution" (Sections 3215 and 3311). “The concept of special creation” should be presented “in, or along with, courses, textbooks, library materials and teaching aids” providing public school instruction about evolution (Section 3321). What Hal says. As a political matter, Democrat Conklin is running as a liberal –- directly competing for progressive votes against City Council members Cathy Murillo and Bendy White amid a five-person race, so such religious pronouncements raise political questions: Does Conklin accept Book of Discipline positions on highly charged political issues? How would he, as mayor, separate his personal role as a national FMC leader from public actions and pronouncements? Does he use his position as national president of the board to attempt to influence or change church doctrine? In two interviews and several email exchanges, Conklin stressed that his faith rests, not on the FMC’s Book of Discipline, but on its overarching, Gospel-inspired “Five Freedoms.” Roughly characterized, these first principles are: racial equality; gender equality; dignity and justice for the poor; shared clergy-laity power within the church; freedom to worship "inspired by the Holy Spirit.” Consistent with these core values, he said, each FMC church, and each member, must judge the Book of Discipline's “guidance” individually. His choices, he said, focus him on civil rights, community service and social justice. “It’s not the Catholic Church, or other denominations where they say, ‘this is the way you’re going to do it,'” he said. “You have to decide.” “Santa Barbara’s (church) chose to do it its own way, and Kansas City chose to do it another way,” he added. “Nobody questions whether your answer is the same as my answer. You’re the one that has to be accountable for how you choose to interpret it.” Question of choice. As mayor, Conklin said, the FMC doctrine would be irrelevant because “the city council doesn’t relate to those issues.” “My personal beliefs have nothing to do with these particular issues,” he said. “The city lives under a rule of law. Whatever the law, it has to be protected.” Julie Mickelberry, vice president of Planned Parenthood’s Central Coast chapter, disagreed with that perspective, without reference to Conklin. “The reality is that city councils have a significant amount of influence on issues and agencies that impact women’s access to reproductive health care and safe legal abortion,” she said. For example, Mickelberry noted a $10,000 grant Planned Parenthood receives through the city; the 1995 “bubble ordinance,” protecting from "harassment" patients who access health centers providing abortions; a recent council resolution opposing federal efforts to disallow Medicaid patients from using Planned Parenthood health centers. Conklin said he esteems Planned Parenthood and backs settled abortion law. . Is he pro-choice or pro-life? “Neither of those simplistic but highly-charged political terms describe me,” he said in an email. “I would describe myself as a ‘democratic libertarian’ regarding public policy (keep the government out of legislating personal behavior; each person has to make a personal moral or ethical decision)… …“And a ‘classical pacifist’ regarding my personal values (I would not personally choose to hurt any form of life including participating in war except for self-defense, prescribing the death penalty, hunting for sport, choosing abortion except for saving a mother's life…)” (Emphases his). Institutional responsibility? I asked Hal if he used his influence as Chairman of the Board of Administration of the Free Methodist Church to try to change its doctrine. “Do you ever say, ‘this is nuts?’” I said, referring to the section of doctrine that calls for creationism to be taught alongside evolution in public schools. "These are not the issues we deal with, we don’t deal with any of these issues. We deal with administrative and financial issues," he said. "I was a little surprised when I was asked to step into an administrative role, but I think because I have strong administrative skills, and they were looking for somebody that had those skills,” he added. Homosexuality and gay marriage. In an interview over coffee at Daily Grind, I asked Hal about a portion of the Book of Discipline that describes homosexuality as “immoral” and prohibits gay marriage. Does he think homosexuality is immoral? “I think lots of things are immoral but it’s almost irrelevant,” he said. “I don’t go around condemning people for homosexuality.” “(The Book of Discipline) is a set of standards that, collectively, people have all voted on about what we think is the best way to live,” he said. “Now you have to decide - it’s really a guidance for you to decide how you’re going to live, but it’s not telling you what to do.” What about church tenets forbidding gay marriage? "(Legality) is the law of the land," he said. "In many ways in my political life I’m more of a libertarian than I am a Democrat," he said, noting that. “I chose a chief of staff when I was mayor who was a member of the gay community,. ”I love people…regardless of what their backgrounds are," he said. For the record: Among the other mayoral candidates, council members and fellow Democrats Cathy Murillo and Bendy White are pro-choice; both have 100 percent ratings from Planned Parenthood, and each is receiving a $500 campaign contribution from the organization's local chapter; business executive and Decline-to-State independent Angel Martinez said in an email that, "I am and have always been 100 percent pro-choice"; council member Frank Hotchkiss, who is a Republican, said, "that's a personal decision that everyone must make on their own" and did not respond when asked if he supports overturning Roe v. Wade. JR (A version of this column is published in this week's Santa Barbara Independent). Email us at newsmakerswithjr@gmail.com or comment on our stories on our Facebook page - SB City Desk. Thanks for reading.

The coolest online tool of political reporting to appear, in at least the last two or three days: an L.A. Times feature launched this morning to track California congressional races most crucial in the Democrats’ bid to flip the House. At a time when Republicans exercise hegemony over all three branches in Washington (in an erratic way, of course, given our 46 percent President), Dems are looking to the 2018 mid-terms as the sine qua non in their efforts to regain a shred of power. Republicans hold a partisan edge of 238-193 in the 435-seat House, with four vacancies. Snapping the GOP’s Beltway hegemony requires Dems to hold their own seats (shout-out to Salud!) and topple at least 24 Republicans for a majority. Their top priority targets are as follows: a) 23 seats that Republicans won in districts where Trump lost to Hillary Clinton; b) 10 GOP districts that Clinton lost by four points or less; and c) vacancies arising from retirement, quietus, or scandal. It’s a precarious political calculus, and it won’t work without California: Democrats need one-third of their wins here. We're No. 10! The newspaper's political team now has order ranked 13 California seats in terms of competitiveness – nine Republican and four held by Democrats – that they report they'll update regularly. The first nine are the Republican incumbents whom the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has targeted, but Rep. Salud Carbajal, Santa Barbara’s own favorite freshman, clocks in at tenth. Salud runs scared in the best of times, so anyone who’s ever given him a dime can expect a new round of plaintive fundraising calls and sky-is-falling emails to start any minute now. JR Email us at newsmakerswithjr@gmail.com or comment on our stories on our Facebook page - SB City Desk. Thanks for reading.

Bendy White noted a key political fact the other day that’s crucial to remember amid Santa Barbara’s roiling debate over housing. “This is going to be a discussion amongst a very different council,” mayoral hopeful and termed-out council member White said, amid a far-flung conversation about the AUD, ADUs and vacation rentals, plus affordable, work force and millennial units, not to mention neighborhood impacts of all the aforementioned. “This is going to be a council of districts, there’s going to be some new faces there,” he added. “How is it all going to play out?” His words serve as a keynote comment for a community forum tomorrow evening (Thursday 9-14) at the New Vic Theater – the first major up-close-and-personal political event of the 2017 election campaign. Organizers for the sponsoring Coastal Housing Coalition said a total of 10 candidates - four from the mayor’s race and six running for district council seats – have confirmed. The inestimable Dave Davis, the city’s ex-longtime Community Development Director, will bring his encyclopedic knowledge of housing controversies to bear as moderator. So count on a substantive policy discussion, if not wild outbreaks of unhinged Trump-style debate shenanigans, among and between the candidates, who all will be on stage at the same time. “Housing is important in every election for social, economic, and environmental reasons,” said Craig Minus, board president of the coaliton. “Our community has consistently struggled at providing housing and particularly housing available for our local workforce.” Good policy is good politics. Beyond policy, the event may also offer some hints of future political dynamics at City Hall, with contenders from all three council districts on the ballot mixing it up with the mayorals. Shannon Clark Batchev, executive administrator for the coalition, said these candidates have said they’ll show up: For mayor: Hal Conklin Angel Martinez Cathy Murillo Bendy White (Frank, we hardly knew ye!) For 4th District Jay Higgins Jim Scafide Kristen Sneddon For 5th District Eric Friedman Warner McGrew For 6th District Jack Ucciferri “Both locally and at the state level there are promising programs developing to help address this issue,” said Minus. “It is important to understand from our candidates their desire and ideas to address this lack of available housing for our local workforce." JR Check it out Coastal Housing Coalition campaign forum Thursday Sept. 14 4-6 p.m. The New Vic Theater 33 W. Victoria Street Santa Barbara Email us at newsmakerswithjr@gmail.com or comment on our stories on our Facebook page - SB City Desk. Thanks for reading.

Kelsey Brugger, burgeoning star reporter and national affairs correspondent for the Independent, has a new post up on their website providing some eye-opening perspective on Santa Barbara’s role in the statewide debate over immigration. Among other things, it sheds light on why our own Sheriff Bill Brown has been so vociferous in leading the law enforcement charge against Senate Bill 54, the so-called “Sanctuary State” law. The story digs into a new report by an outfit called Immigration TRAC, a non-profit organization associated with Syracuse University, which sued the Department of Homeland Security for data about recent actions by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency under our 46 percent president. Amazingly, the Santa Barbara County Jail ranks 25th in the nation – whatcha call your United States of America – in “holds” that ICE has requested on immigrants under the Trump Administration. Writes Kelsey: Notably, Santa Barbara County Jail finished ahead of the county jails in Ventura and San Diego counties. Those counties have two and eight times the population of Santa Barbara County, respectively. ICE “detainers” prepared for Santa Barbara County Jail in March 2017 quadrupled from the same one-month time period in 2014, according to the report. The number jumped from 21 to 86. Currently, ICE “detainers” function as requests for certain foreign-born inmates who will be released from county jails. A federal judge found the practice of holding inmates longer than their local sentences was illegal. Sheriff Bill takes incoming. The whole yarn is worth a read, because it also provides the only reporting on a forum, held last Thursday night, in which Sheriff Brown endured considerable community flack over his opposition to Senate Bill 54, the so-called “Sanctuary State” measure. Sponsored by state Senate President Kevin de Leon, the bill is aimed at restricting the cooperation local law enforcement agencies provide in granting federal immigration authorities access to many undocumented immigrants – but not all – entangled in the criminal justice system. Specifically the measure would: Limit the role of state or local law enforcement agencies in holding and questioning immigrants in the the country illegally…prohibit police and sheriffs from asking about a person’s immigration’s status, detaining people for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “hold” requests and participating in any program that deputizes police as immigration agents. Brown, in his role as president of the California State Sheriffs’ Association, railed against early versions of the measure, saying the bill “protects criminals and jeopardizes public safety – it provides sanctuaries to criminals.” On Monday, dispatches from Sacramento reported that de Leon had watered down the legislation, with amendments aimed at placating Governor Jerry Brown’s concerns, and that it is now headed for passage and signature. No word yet on Sheriff Bill’s take on the latest version. Deep in the weeds with mayorals. In our recent “Newsmakers” one-on-one interviews with the five candidates for mayor, I asked them about SB 54, as a signifier to help understand their broader views on immigration. For political junkies who just can't get enough of this stuff, here are transcripts of how they answered, along with the dates of the interviews, for context. HAL CONKLIN (August 24). Q: Do you support SB 54? Do you support a sanctuary state? A: Well, I’ve been watching as it’s going through the legislature and I can see why it’s had trouble getting approval even from all the democrats because there are some key provisions in it that I know the Sheriff has made a big deal about, which is if there’s certain crimes such as attempted rape, or a variety of other things, which you can report on, that’s a problem. So, I think that there’s a core to that Bill which has value but you’ve got to work out - the devil’s in the details. Q: So, you’re against it as of now? A: I think that it’s got to get amended so some of these key provisions of criminal behavior are reportable. Q: But, you think as a general principle that local law enforcement should not be cooperating too closely with the federal immigration authorities? A: You know, I think the Police Chief and the Police Department already has taken a very good stand in Santa Barbara. I mean, it focuses on local laws and what we have to do locally. It doesn’t go out of its way to pretend to be federal agents. But, I think if you’re asked by the federal government, the only thing you should be reporting on is criminal behavior. FRANK HOTCHKISS (August 17) Q: Where are you on SB 54? Are you for or against it? A: Yeah, no, that's a good question. I'm actually broader than even Sheriff Brown. I mean, to me the reason the United States is such an enviable place to come to for people all over the world is we're a nation of laws and we set those laws and whether we like them or not we try to follow them. So, if somebody comes here and their first act is to break one of those laws you start wondering, "Wait a minute, are you really wanting to be part of the American system," and then once you break that law you're gonna have to break others. You're gonna have to get a social security number illegally, you've got to do a lot of things illegally. It really puts people in an awkward position right away just to start off that way. Q: …Do you agree with the Trump administration's execution of the immigration laws to-date? A: I'm not sure what the administration's execution of those laws has been and I think that's been changing also. But, let me just continue the way I was going if I could. Q: We've got about 30 seconds… A: Okay. So, people that come here illegally, if you want to stay here and become an American I would get an attorney and go through the hoops, and learn everything, and get your English down, and do it all right and if you're not interested in staying, then realize you're probably gonna have to leave one way or the other, maybe willfully, hopefully. So, I want people to live happily legally here in every way. Q: All right. So, we'll put you down as a no on the Sanctuary State Bill SB54. A: Capital N, capital O. ANGEL MARTINEZ (August 31). Q: Do you support Senate Bill 54? A. I agree with Bill Brown. I think that protecting criminals is the opposite of what we should be doing. I’m also - I want to protect families though, people who have been here 20 years, end up with a parking infraction and then end up at risk of being deported. I think we should find other options to give them some path to legal status. Q: Path to citizenship? A: Some path to legal status. It could be extended work permit, it could be a variety of different options. It at some point, could include citizenship but I think immediately there has to be some legal way for people to come and work here with an extended work permit, some form of legal status that allows them to live here and come and go back to Mexico or wherever they came from comfortably. Q: Would you encourage the police department not to cooperate with ICE, with the Federal Immigration authorities? A: Currently, there’s a program that’s called 287(G) which is an ICE regulation. 287(G) is voluntary. 287(G) most police agencies around the country feel that it puts a barrier between local police and immigrants because what it does is it deputizes the local police to be the arm of ICE. I’m not in favor of that. I think it creates a lot of havoc, especially in a community like Santa Barbara. I am in favor however, of using the other aspects of ICE’s enforcement policies to make sure that criminals are scooped up and deported as rapidly as possible. They’re all in the fingerprint database. I’m in favor of the City of Santa Barbara participating in that database and letting ICE know when we have a criminal and when that person is in our custody and when they’re going to be released go pick them up. CATHY MURILLO (August 17). Q: Senate Bill 54 - for it or against it? A: Well, I certainly do not believe in protecting people who have committed crimes especially, violent crimes so no, that aspect is not appealing to me. The City of Santa Barbara basically functions as a safe city for our undocumenteds. The Chamber of Commerce recognizes that undocumented labor force is a big part of our economy and I’m always going to be sensitive to the people who live and work here Jerry. Q: So, you’re against Senate Bill 54, this sanctuary state? A: No, I support it. Q: Oh, you do support it? A: But, I want it to be sure that it’s not letting criminals off the hook. BENDY WHITE (August 24). Q: Do you support the so-called State Sanctuary Bill on immigration, Senate Bill 54? As you know Sheriff Brown is vehemently against that and all the sheriffs are. A: I would need to look at it more closely. I don’t have a position on that yet. JR You can email us at newsmakerswithjr@gmail.com or comment on our stories on our Facebook page - SB City Desk. Bill Brown photo credit: Paul Wellman.

Josh thinks Cathy is a clear front-runner in the mayor’s race, while Tyler says Angel is rising and Jerry warns not to overlook the old guy. Also: Hector finds local campuses surprisingly calm in wake of DACA, while Kelsey pulls ever further ahead of the pack with her real-time historic coverage of marijuana legalization, as the Newsmakers all-star panel of top SB reporters and editors returns with trademark inside analysis and behind-the-scenes commentary. All that, plus bad jokes, ad hominem attacks and a very special gift for Kelsey at the end of the first episode of our fall season. You can watch it online by clicking below, or on TVSB on Cox Channel 17 at our regular air times: Sunday at 11 am. Monday at 6:30 pm. Friday at 8 pm. Saturday at 11 pm. A reminder that the full block of Newsmakers half-hour one-on-ones with the five mayoral candidates airs on TVSB: Sundays 5-7:30 pm. Wednesdays 11 am – 1:30 pm. Fridays 9/15 4:30-7 pm. And you can find TVSB's full schedule of programming here. Thanks for viewing! -JR

Mayoral candidate Angel Martinez has given up his post as Chairman of the Board of Goleta-based Deckers Outdoor Corp., the candidate confirmed, weeks after an activist investor lambasted his political campaign as a “distraction.” The move, first reported by financial news service StreetInsider.com, followed harsh criticism of Deckers' financial performance, and of Martinez personally, by investor Mick McGuire, managing partner of Marcato Capital Management. Martinez, who will remain on the board as a director, told Newsmakers that he had "resigned" as chair, not been "replaced." "To be clear, I resigned my position to focus on the campaign, now that it is in full swing after the Labor Day holiday," he said in an email, "Saying I was "replaced" implies that it was a decision I was forced into making, which is not the case. I have no further comment, and would refer you to Deckers should you have any other question." He served as President and CEO of Deckers from 2005-16, during which time the company grew appreciably, driven in large part by the global success of its UGG footwear line. He has served as board Chairman since 2008. As a political matter, the news of his exit from the chairman’s chair could provide an opening for mayoral rivals to question his executive skills, which form the rationale for his candidacy. At the same time, however, it also frees him from the diversions of corporate warfare as he works to boost his profile while running in a crowded field against four better-known candidates. Corporate shark tank. Tyler Hayden, news editor of the Independent, reported on Aug. 24 about McGuire’s effort to force Martinez out of the chairman’s position. McGuire, whose company owns six percent of Deckers stock, has been pressuring the board to slash expenses and sell the company, during a time it has been conducting a “strategic review” of its future options. “Our concerns are supported by a review of Deckers' history of underperformance, which is not the result of one-off events beyond the Company’s control, but is instead attributable to years of poor decision making and operational neglect, highlighted by a failed retail expansion strategy, runaway corporate expenses, and wasteful capital allocation,” McGuire wrote to the board in June. “Lastly we observe that Angel Martinez, the Company’s Chairman and former CEO, has recently launched a campaign to be elected Mayor of Santa Barbara in this coming November’s election. These circumstances force shareholders to question whether the Board will have the appropriate leadership, focus, and urgency during this process,” he added. Bottom line. With UGGs representing a huge share of its revenue, the company reported $122 million in profit on sales of $1.8 billion for fiscal year 2016, down from $161.8 million the year before. Martinez received $5.7 million in total compensation last year, according to a report in the business website salary.com, including a salary of $1.2 million and $4.5 million in stock. (Updated at 3:05 pm with Martinez full comment and several small editing changes). -JR

Politicians, educators and decent people in Santa Barbara, throughout California and the nation are scrambling to craft political and legal strategies to fight Donald Trump’s termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The 46 percent president has called on Congress to decide over the next six months the future of the policy, which has allowed undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to pursue education and obtain work permits; however, the plain fact is that, at least as of today, the Obama-sponsored program is seriously dead. Trump’s gambit, yet another sop to his hardcore right-wing base, affects about 800,000 people nationwide, nearly 30 percent of them in California, including 9,000 on the Central Coast. You can find a good primer on the whole controversy here. Five takeaways: Murillo in motion. Trump’s move provides both a political challenge and an opportunity for mayoral candidate and city council member Cathy Murillo to demonstrate leadership on a huge issue to the community. Murillo says she’ll be meeting with the Mexican Consul next week, along with a coalition of churches, school district representatives and law enforcement officials, to come up with guidance to offer families with undocumented members at a workshop later in the month. “We will discuss what the state of California can do, legal actions, and how schools and local police can respond to attempts at deportation or removal,” she told me. “It is so cruel for these young people in the program, working and studying, to now be experiencing this.” Murillo also notes that there is a forum on Senate Bill 54, the so-called “ sanctuary state” legislation, scheduled at the Unitarian Society tomorrow night at 7 p.m. Salud’s slip-up. S.B’s freshman congressman Salud Carbajal says he’ll be in the middle of the battle by congressional Democrats to reinstitute and “codify” DACA, as a co-sponsor of the so-called DREAM Act, after the name given to those who have been protected from deportation by the program. Salud also was a headliner at last week’s rally in support of DACA, but he managed to step into the soup in the course of his speech, as the Indy's Hector Sanchez-Castaneda reported: In the middle of Carbajal’s bashing on President Donald Trump, a woman in the crowd shouted, “Fuck that puto,” to which Carbajal laughed and responded. “She said it more adequately.” “Puto” is a strong, derogatory slang term in Spanish, used against homosexual men; it roughly translates to “faggot.” When asked after the rally if he stood by his comment of support, Carbajal vehemently denied supporting the comment. “The statement of what they were trying to say was just ‘be negative toward the president,’” he said. “I’m on the LGBTQ caucus, so it’s not in that framework in which I would condone that statement.” When pressed on his “more adequately” statement, Carbajal said he “kind of thought” the woman might have used another word. Salud’s blood pressure spiked after the Indy published Hector’s story online and he issued a, um, clarification, which probably only seemed as if it was longer than the original story, claiming he was “unfortunately unaware this term was used by the member of the audience that I responded to.” Memo to Salud: Next time, just try saying, “Sorry, screwed up, I apologize.” Two-faced Trump. It’s silly, of course, to look for any rationality, let alone consistency, from the White House on any issue, but the contradictions on DACA are really special. Josh Marshall had an excellent take on this at Talking Points Memo: Last night the White House sent out guidance to offices on Capitol Hill that were clarifyingly stark about what we should be expecting. The memo says quite simply that DACA recipients should use their remaining time with work permits and protection from deportation to prepare to leave the United States. No, six months maybe Congress we’ll solve this, no we’ll see what happens. Just you’re leaving. At the same time, the President himself can’t seem to keep his story straight. The President’s tweet communications have presented his DACA decision as putting the matter into Congress’s lap with the implicit message that DACA is something to be solved. Let me put that more clearly. For diehards like Jeff Sessions and the hardcore anti-immigrants types, this is the solution. There’s nothing for Congress to solve. It’s done. This is the goal. Past is prologue. Back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, I covered Gov. Pete Wilson’s 1994 re-election campaign, when he trumpeted the immigrant-bashing Prop. 187, which sought to deny undocumented people public education and health care, among other benefits. Wilson won his race against Jerry Brown’s sister, Kathleen. going away, but he also inflicted permanent damage on California’s Republican Party among Latino voters; the action taken on DACA by Trump and fellow GOPers almost certainly will have a similar, but much bigger, impact nationally. Rats flee ship. The Democratic Party needs to flip 24 seats in the 2018 midterms to regain control of the House and reclaim a slice of power against the GOP’s current hegemony in Washington. They’ve targeted seats across the country where Hillary Clinton beat Trump, including seven in California, several with large Latino populations. It’s not surprising to find at least a few Republican incumbents, who opposed DACA in the past, running away from Trump on this one, as Sarah Wire of the L.A. Times noted in an excellent round-up: Now that the president is putting the issue on Congress’ agenda, the vulnerable Republicans will be squarely in the center of the debate As the Romans always liked to say, "Auribus Teneo Lupum." -JR .