Victor Maccharoli- Incumbent Grant House talks to Mayor Marty Blum after announcing his candidacy for city council yesterday at City Hall.
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House Seeks 2nd Term
The race for Santa Barbara City Council intensified on Tuesday after incumbent Grant House jumped into the contest, declaring his desire to serve another four years.
With the city facing a potential $10.5 million budget deficit, House said he plans to focus on the city’s financial problems, boost city environmental programs and engage the neighborhoods in building a stronger sense of community.
During his first term House has largely pushed an alternative transportation, affordable housing and environmental sustainability agenda; House is largely seen as a pro-growth and pro-development council member, which has earned him scorn among the city’s increasingly vocal slow-growth residents.
The cheery House, owner of Grant House Sewing Machines, and a longtime former city planning commissioner before getting elected, said he looks forward to a presenting himself to voters and hitting the campaign trail.
“"I have a record of commitment to our neighborhoods.” House said. “I believe that our community has faced challenges but we are stronger and better able to meet these challenges because of the policies enacted during my tenure at City Hall."
House’s foray into the race symbolically kicks the race for City Council into high gear. The 58-year-old will have a natural advantage over the others in the race through the power of incumbency, but he faces some stiff competition from multiple prongs.
With as many as four council seats up for grabs, the contest is likely to be fierce.
In one corner is House, who has institutional power and is backed by the city establishment. But House will have to battle the likes of David Pritchett, a videographer and environmental activist who has straddled the line between city gadfly and civic volunteer for the last several years.
Pritchett has a strong base among environmentalists, affordable housing activists and local government critics who believe the city needs new blood.
Realtor John Thyne is also in the race and will likely spend heavily to win a seat on the council. Thyne, who’s real estate business Goodwin & Thyne is well known around down has significant name recognition through his volunteer work and business.
There are others in the race. Newcomer Olivia Uribe, associate director of the Santa Barbara County Action Network, a housing, preservation of open space and transportation advocacy group.
Peace activist Lane Anderson is also in the race, as is realtor Frank Hotchkiss, who ran unsuccessfully for a seat two years ago. Harwood “Bendy” White, a longtime city planning commissioner is also running for a seat.
White for years has been courted by Santa Barbara’s slow-growth environmentalist activists. After years of considering a run, White has plunged into the race and has wide support among residents seeking limits on building heights in the downtown core. Longtime neighborhood and environmental activist Dianne Channing is also running for a spot on the council.
There are other candidates who have expressed an interested in running.
House said he’s excited about having another term. Despite the legitimacy of many of the candidates, House said he is confident that he will prevail.
He touts his support for the neighborhood preservation ordinance, water conservation efforts and restoration of Arroyo Burro Creek. He is also proud of the fact that the city opened the downtown teen center for young people.
“I believe that the best means to cope with the rise in youth violence is not only to provide the tools to our law enforcement need but also to foster grass roots activism from within the neighborhoods so that residents are empowered to take back their neighborhoods."
Friend and Santa Barbara City Councilman Das Williams said House is 100 percent genuinely committed to public service and that he deserves to elected to a second term.
“Grant has been committed to a more walkable, livable city, workforce housing and sound, thoughtful planning,” Williams said. “He has the most sense of anyone on the council regarding the nuts and bolts of how the planning process works.”
Comment on this article
With the city facing a potential $10.5 million budget deficit, House said he plans to focus on the city’s financial problems : 5/27/2009
a litle late, but a good line for the PR. It's time to clean house (pun) and live w/in our means.
tax payer
: 5/27/2009
I’m glad to have someone like Grant who has lived and worked in this community for so long with his wife part of the Council. And it’s not like he caused the economic recession (depression?) that this Country is facing. Santa Babrara’s having hard times but we’ll get out of this without cutting every good thing the City gets done.
Sillier Season : 5/27/2009
Once again we are amused about how a sitting council member will take credit for all the good things when he or she did nothing except spend five minutes reading a staff report and then voting yes on the action when it appeared on the agenda. "House is largely seen as a pro-growth and pro-development council member" for a reason.
Clean House
Rail South : 5/27/2009
In this message I'm sayin that US VP Joseph Biden needs to get a haircut and that southern California should seek only 'modern rail' with ragard to any new 'transportation spending' in the region. Today's cover page of 'La Opinion' Spanish News portrays Vice President Biden with Obama and the new Supreme CT Judge. This photo is more flattering for Ms Sotomayor than the Devlish looking example on the NY Times; yet it has Josey Biden looking like he almost slept through the photo-op. That Do of his is too difficult to manage, in modern times. He needs to get either a 'buzz-Cut' or else a High-and-tight. I don't think he'd look 'older' with a buzzcut (1/8" blade runner), nor do i believe he'd look 'balder' with a high and tight (military fade). I was pullin for Biden early on (for President 08) in my own campaign signs for a local race (home-made and sharper than paid for). The fact is that Biden resembles my former barbar and hometown famous pundit, a man rumored to decsend from the early American demolitions & railroad builder gang; the Molly McGuires, and Biden is makin him look bad with that slicked out Do. What if someone uses those photo's around the greater Lawrenceburg area; Hucks valuable Image will be Shot. Also, from the L.A. Times, a construction group plans to use a new 'tunnel' for a highway construction project; a new part of hwy 705 (with tunneling used to 'save' homes and neighborhoods). I'm telling you that digging under the Earth is the most expensive and least 'safe' option for any such project in that conjested area (South central Los Angeles) and the money would be better spent for modern rail (obove the horizon). See www.tharonchandler.com
Tharon Chandler
House is good : 5/27/2009
No one can blame the Grant House or any other single member of the City Council for this deficit. Those who know Grant, know he is dedicated to serving all people of Santa Barbara, but especially dedicated to low-income people. Santa Barbara would be better off having a member like Grant serve this city. To Tharon...wrong platform for this kind of rant. Use your personal blog.
Santa Barbara native
Outta Da House! : 5/27/2009
Maybe not, but we can sure blame him and them for the festering gang and crime and illegal immigration problems.
NO MORE SILLY COUNCIL! : 5/27/2009
This place has become a crime infested, poorly budgeted, sanctuary City in only 4 years on their watch. WE NEED CHANGE!
Try again, "silly" : 5/27/2009
To "No More Silly Council," Crime is way down from what it was only 10 years ago. Check for yourself by clicking the link below. Scroll down and you'll see the tables. Not that the facts will stop local closet-conservative haters from wishing -- and believing -- crime is up and illegal immigrants are to blame. Your world has become too small. http://www.independent.com/news/2009/apr/23/clouds-gathering-over-police-chief/
Pesky Facts
Try again "pesky" : 5/30/2009
Apparently you are not wise to the ways of hiding and manipulating statistics. Did you notice the Aggravated Assault category the one with the asterisk? Aggravated assault could be anything from throwing a pebble at someone to almost killing them with a bat or a butcher knife but not succeeding. The difference over the past years is that the aggravated assaults have increasingly accelerated from common bar-room brawls and altercations (fist fight level) to near death stabbings by younger and younger gang members in broad daylight, fewer incidents perhaps, but no measure of the seriousness or boldness of each.
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