The primary election for 2020 is just 13 months from now in March of 2020; it’s time to start thinking about who the Santa Barbara County supervisor of the 4th District should be. The incumbent has announced that he doesn’t intend to run again, so the seat is open.
The county, like almost every other city and county in the state has a growing budget problem. Someone needs to propose solutions rather than painting a rosy picture. Instead of spending more money on pet projects and banishing revenue-producing businesses, maybe it’s time for a different voice in the decision-making process.
It’s past time for a laser-like focus on the revenue side of the budget, and I know and respect someone who has been studying the issues, analyzing staff reports, and attending Board of Supervisor meetings for more than 20 years. He is without a doubt an expert on the subject.
I have found him to be fiscally responsible and knowledgeable of every major issue confronting the county. He has consistently stressed the importance of nurturing businesses, specifically those that produce significant revenue flow for the ailing general fund, which pays for firefighters, sheriff’s deputies, parks, libraries, and schools.
I asked him what he thought was needed.
“I’ve said and have been saying for years, we aren’t thinking big enough on how to transform the county bureaucracy into a leaner, smarter, and more cost-efficient organization that emphasizes the critical need for revenue generation via a thriving county economy and innovative process improvements. And we certainly aren’t maximizing our comparable advantages as it relates to our county’s unique opportunity to increase local revenues by enhancing existing resource development, or by growing new economic sectors,” he responded.
This is a refreshing approach and one that should be embraced by folks who would like to see existing county services maintained for the next several years. We need this kind of thinking at the helm, and he may be able to convince others that this is the right way to success.
His support for revenue-producing projects to help resolve budget issues is unwavering. I am confident that his approach to creating that “leaner, smarter, and more cost-efficient organization” would be strategic based on his broad experience in these matters.
So, who is this mystery man? I believe that Joe Armendariz, a strong industry and taxpayer advocate, would be in the best position to serve the 4th District and the entire county. If you think so too, talk to Joe and urge him to run.
This article appears in Jan 31 – Feb 7, 2019.
