Opinion

After reading some of the recent letters to the editor in support of John MacKinnon, I’ve realized some people are under the misconception that since he is a D.A., he will extend his prosecuting of cases, if elected, by “making people accountable from the bench.” You could not be further from the truth. The positions […]

I have been a court stenographer (court reporter) for the past 32 years, 14 of them as an employee of the County of Santa Barbara. I was the official court reporter on the Michael Jackson criminal trial presided over by the Honorable Rodney S. Melville in Santa Maria in 2005. I say that not to […]

I am one of the 16 members of the “Committee to Elect Jed Beebe.” In recent weeks, we have all worked extremely hard to get Jed elected to be the next Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge. If you see all of Jed’s red signs out, it’s this committee that has accomplished this. One usually […]

Retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor speaks about the important characteristics of a good judge: wisdom, humility, conscientiousness, competence, and high ethics. Attorneys like me have a responsibility to speak out and support the elevation of members of the bar to the bench who demonstrate these important characteristics. We have an opportunity in November to place […]

I recently received a six-page color ad in the mail touting Abel Maldonado as independent leadership. Three of the pages start with independent leadership in large type. Is Abel ashamed of being a Republican? The word Republican is used only once, in small type on the last page. If Abel is so proud of his […]

When people run for office, or citizens put measures or propositions on the ballot, it is their right, and guaranteed by law, to advertise. The cheapest and most common form is to erect yard signs. My complaint, and it’s directed to those individuals who oppose my views, is to leave my signs alone! It is […]

What a mess. Blame it on Republican deregulation if it makes you feel better. Who was in charge? All indicators point to Democrats. However, both parties are to blame, mostly “liberal” Democrats. The finger has rightfully been pointed to Wall Street by both irresponsible parties, Fannie May and Freddie Mac included, for making careless loans. […]

As Election Day nears, we may all agree great leadership is needed now more than ever before. The call for change rings louder and louder in my ears as each presidential candidate exclaims he’s the “one change” that will address the challenging problems we face. As I see it, a “change” we need to make […]

Jed Beebe is running for judge of the Superior Court of Santa Barbara County. Over the last 10 years, I’ve worked with him and known him personally, as a friend and a neighbor. If elected, Jed will be a remarkable judge. With more than 30 years of legal experience, including the last 18 years as […]

On the ballot is Measure A, a proposed 30-year tax. Measure A is on the ballot because Measure D, passed many years ago to fund roads as a temporary tax, is about to expire. Some have said that Measure A is not a new tax. As noted above, Measure D is temporary and about to […]