After more than a decade of continuity, the seat for Santa Barbara County’s 2nd District supervisor is now a question mark.
Supervisor Janet Wolf announced on Nov. 16 that she would not seek re-election next year, citing a desire to spend more time with family. Her move to step down could change the political balance of the five-member board.
As of the Sun’s press time, no prospective candidates had come forward claiming interest in a run for Wolf’s to-be-vacated seat.
Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino is the only other candidate on the board up for re-election in 2018. He announced his intent to run this past summer and is presently unopposed.
In a statement, Wolf said she would spend her remaining 13 months in office “working full time on the issues and projects that reflect the values and priorities I’ve advocated for throughout my 11 years in office.”
That includes “transparent, sensible, and equitable public policy and land-use decisions,” she added. “In that spirit I am thrilled that just last week our board voted to accept the final California Coastal Commission modifications to the Eastern Goleta Valley Community Plan. This final action was the culmination of over a decade of intensive work and the commitment of many individuals, including community members, Goleta Valley PAC members, and county staff.”
A press release issued by Wolf’s office the day she announced she would not seek another term listed a series of accomplishments the supervisor was proud of, including building the county’s strategic reserve to the “highest level ever,” acquiring funding for a new fire station 11 in Goleta, opening a new Emergency Operations Center, and decreasing the juvenile crime and incarceration rate, among others.
“It has been and will continue to be an honor to serve the residents of the 2nd District and the county of Santa Barbara,” Wolf said. “I will always be grateful to our residents, county staff, and my board colleagues for their support and their dedication to our shared common cause of bettering our community.”
This article appears in Nov 23-30, 2017.