Edhat Staff
By edhat staff
Jonathan Abboud announced he will end his campaign for the California State Assembly and will consider a run for the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.
In an email to supporters last week, Abboud stated he will endorse State Assembly District 37 candidate and current County Supervisor, Gregg Hart.
“Gregg has been a great County Supervisor, a true leader throughout the pandemic with extensive experience in local government, tackling some of our community’s toughest issues including housing and ensuring generations can continue to live in Santa Barbara County, and will be excellent for our district. I hope you will join me in supporting him,” wrote Abboud.
As the Isla Vista Community Services District cofounder and Santa Barbara City College trustee, Abboud stated he’s been “encouraged by many community leaders to run for the 2nd District Supervisor’s seat” where he’s lived for the past 11 years.
“Nearly every day since 2017 I’ve worked with the County Board of Supervisors and navigated county departments to deliver high quality public services to county residents as a local government executive, since 2012 I did the same as a community leader. This knowledge and experience will be invaluable serving in the role of County Supervisor,” he said.
Since 2014 he has been elected twice to represent a large portion of this district as a Trustee on the Santa Barbara Community College District Board of Trustees, serving two terms.
Abboud stated he’s heard from voters that local issues include the soaring costs of housing and childcare, the need for compassionate and effective action to house the homeless, as well as seriously addressing climate change and enhancing resilience to the natural disasters caused by it in our community.
“With the recently completed redistricting this District now includes both Santa Barbara City College and the University of California Santa Barbara, I am prepared to use my extensive experience working with both institutions, as a local government executive and college board member, for the benefit of all county residents on day one,” he wrote.
The election for the California State Assembly District 37 will take place in November.
Das Williams 2.0. Career politician in the making. Young, arrogant and represents a huge transient population of students. Not the right fit to fill Gregg Hart’s shoes.
A-164 Well stated, my thoughts exactly…Voters need to wake up and elect the most qualified in life experiences over political machines choosing who we vote for.
I’ve known Gregg since 1980, maybe before. I don’t see why he couldn’t fill Gregg’s shoes.
He’s driven and accomplished, all on the local level. I think he is a good fit. I have not decided who I’ll support yet.
Bio:
Jonathan Abboud was born in Los Angeles, California. He earned both a B.A. in political science and a master’s degree in technology management from the University of California Santa Barbara. Abboud’s professional experience includes working as a general manager for the Isla Vista Community Services District and as a community organizer for the Isla Vista Self Governance Initiative. He has served as treasurer of the Santa Barbara County Action Network, as executive director of the Reclaim CA Higher Education Coalition, as regional director for California Young Democrats, and as a platform committee member for the California Democratic Party. He previously served as student body president for UC Santa Barbara from 2013 to 2014. He was elected to a four-year term on the Board of Trustees of Santa Barbara City College in 2018. https://ballotpedia.org/Jonathan_Abboud
1:49, you think Gregg’s NOT a career politician?! He’s running for State Assembly! lol
His career, from his County page:
“His professional career began as a legislative assistant for State Assemblymember Jack O’Connell. Supervisor Hart went on to serve as the original manager of the Santa Barbara County Association of Government’s (SBCAG) Traffic Solutions program. He served as a Santa Barbara City Councilmember, as the Deputy Executive Director for SBCAG, Planning Commissioner, California Coastal Commissioner, as a member of numerous boards and commissions, and now as the Second District County Supervisor.”
Gregg was young, possibly arrogant, and at the beginning of his career once too!