Ballots Arrive Before Candidate's Statements and Voter Materials

Our voter guide came before the ballot did.

The State Guide came out but not the County I believe.

So did mine.

That's the thing, it's NOT too early to vote if your ballot is in hand, and I would not doubt that more than a few people filled their ballot out immediately upon receiving it.

It's not a conspiracy. It is a breach of contract. And I think paying 5,302.00 that the incumbents decided to pass on to all candidates is not a reasonable amount of money. Do you only want to attract challengers who have means. Or would you like money not to play such a big roll. 5,302.00 is too high. And then not to get what I paid for is breaking a deal. I did file a complaint and I may get a refund . Think the planning on Holland's part was weak but hey it is covid. It is good for incumbents bad for challengers. It is not a conspiracy just an unfortunate outcome that I believe deserves a refund.

But you and others complain that this was directed at a certain party..... ok stop the drivel.

I am offended by this screw up. I do not claim it was directed at one party or anther. l want our elected officials to do their duty. This was not done here and it is wrong for the Elections person to try and explain around it by saying it is not important or he met a higher priority or whatever. And, btw, the ones hurt most by this are definitely the independents and small party candidates who do not have money from interest groups. So incidentally the act benefited both major party nominees though this was not the intention in my opinion.

Some got them maybe, no voter pamphlet yet in this part of Santa Barbara - Oct 1.

I disagree, SBMH2015. EDHAT is the best public info site, the only local news site that does allow public comments and where the comments are sometimes as interesting if not more so than the story. I am shocked that the candidate paid $5,302.00 ! --- is that what all for the SBUSD paid? GUSD, also? I know that candidates for SBCC trustees paid less. Was there any promise made as to when the ballot info would be available? Mine came more or less contemporaneous with the ballot at my PO Box. Given all the ballot measures as well as the school board candidates it would have been helpful had it been earlier and I am glad that deWit stood up about this ---- too often SBUSD trustees roll over, which is why I am not voting for any of the incumbents.

Why is it ridiculous to want a fair election process?

2015 I think this points out barrier that are in the system which are not equitable. Why should SBUSD get to charge so much more than any other race. 5,302. for 200 words and 10000 for more. The decision was made by current incumbents who were never elected. It does not cost that much to print black in on new print. It is keeping latinx parents with low income from running yet we have the second highest poverty rate. It is about creating barriers and not getting what the contract said . Really sorry to loose your vote but it seems pricey and I did not get what they sold me.

I believe these rates are set by the district themselves - who also are interested in keeping a status quo and put up barriers to any possible renegades who would disrupt this status quo, let alone ask questions and ask for accountability. Rate setting might be function of the district's legal department, which is where the first questions from new voices should be asked.

Goleta Candidates did not have to pay a fee. Most other candidates like SBCC it was close to 1,000. SBUSD was the only one charging 5,302.00 for 200 words and 10,000. for any words over that.

I had the same reaction. Of course I support public discourse, Ms. De Wit's statement is not the issue. The content is. I don't think that receiving one or the other first is disqualifying. It sounds to me like continuing the anti-election arguments of our current president. It sounds to me like nit picking. This candidate's statement re: election materials does not better my view of her.

How did they come to office if they were "never elected"? I'm very confused, I don't recall any appointments due to recall or death.

That would be you're sorry to "lose" that vote.

"Really sorry to loose your vote but it seems pricey and I did not get what they sold me." Are you Ms. De Wit? (sorry if I misspelled or misprinted your name. You're a public office candidate! Why don't you use your name on a public site?!

When you get appointed to fill a vacancy or when no one runs against you, then you come to office on a free pass and not an election. In the case of no filed opposition, a candidate's name or office does not even show up on the ballot, denying even any write-in opposition votes. That is how you can be "never elected", yet hold elected office.

My apologies for criticizing your spelling, though I think it's valid, as proofreaders are almost a dime a dozen in these and all times and I think professionals and public figures should use them. I say so as an English major who moonlighted for a variety of publications and professionals. I am sorry I cast aspersions on your writing. .... Sheesh. I'm only gonna dig myself deeper in a hole here... There's no safe way these days.

10:09 PM. I believe they ran unopposed.

In 2016, there were three open seats on the five-member board. When registration closed, only three candidates - Laura Capps, Jackie Reid and Wendy Sims-Moten - had signed up to run; they all "won" seats without appearing on the ballot. All three have served for the past four years and now are running for a second term, against five other contenders.

It doesn't matter - you're not going to win anyways.

Oh, get real! I dont' mean to offend. Advertising has a LOT more to do with political success than a voter guide. I'd love some surveys on whether they're even read. Your statement that "Incumbents of late are all establishment candidates" is a tautology; a circular statement. All incumbents are always established.

No, establishment candidates are the ones backed by the government employee unions, SEIU and the teachers unions typically. That has become the unfair playing field advantage any contender has to overcome. County Clerk was definitely not neutral on this issue and did favor the current establishment (union backed) incumbents. The employee union networking, partisan backing, power and money have kept local elections out of balance for several decades. Official mailed ballot statements are the best way to reach the most people for the least money. I see the Independent yet again endorsed the public sector union backed candidates, for more of the same. More dysfunction and more failure. Why are they doing this to our city and our schools? This city has become very unhealthy, having become a one-party town over these past few decades. Harriet Miller was the last mayor who presided over a politically diverse city council. It has been all down hill since that time forward You can measure the decline of this city from that time- extremely poor leadership and decision making after two decades of single party council members, for offices that are intended to be non-partisan and responsive to all community members, not just the city employees. Get woke, Independent editorial staff. You have been the handmaidens of this city's downfall. Never understood what was in it for them.

By the way, there are two guides: I received my guide describing the state propositions, but I have not yet received the sample ballot that usually includes the local candidates’ statements.

I study my guide and many other sources and often have discussions with other thoughtful people. Always have. Can't imagine dealing with local boards and propositions before doing due diligence. But yeah-- lots of people don't bother to study the issues. Seems to me to go along with the denigration of education and study. Of course I have my biases and generally vote Dem, but I work at my ballot. It takes some effort to be an informed citizen. But I can and must vote against my personal interests. When I first heard of Prop 15, many months ago, I decided I had to vote for it based on my beliefs and values. That was before I knew it did not apply to homes. One's values should be expressed in one's vote.

I am undecided on Prop. 15. This is a terrible time for it.

Why? So far, both the Indie and League of Women Voters say vote “yes”. It corrects the error made in undercharging commercial property taxes and benefits schools.

I rarely now agree with the Independent (they urged a vote for Das in the last election and for Cathy Murillo as mayor) --- as for the LWV, where does it say their recommendation for 15? I would like to see what they say on other ballot measures. (15 is predictable for the SB LWV.) Having just picked up my ballot info I'll read the official statements on it. (And I agree, candidates who paid for their statements should get a refund just as they would if they paid for an ad in a newspaper and it ran late.)

I usually wait until I get my info to vote. In some cases, I look at the candidates' websites. Plus, there were some discussion panels for the school board.

I bet there is nothing in the election material contract with the candidates that promises a publish by date or anything. Just that it is published in the materials that are sent to the voters. We can huff and puff all we want, but I haven't see anyone refer to a rule that would mandate reimbursement.

Candidates do submit electronically but it gets cut and paste by someone after. Some thing I intended for the bottom ended up near the top. But the body of text looked the same as what I submitted I believe.

They have a lot of nerve charging what they do for statements, then messing up basic copy and paste...

Use Google, but add "site:edhat.com" to the end of your search. I use this method even for huge companies' websites, for some reason the search function is very difficult to get right.

I appreciate a difference of opinion but the high fee was only for SBUSD and was decided upon by the incumbents. Do you want money to play a big role in who runs? Do you think it would be nice to have someone of low income get on seeing that we are in a county with the second highest poverty rate. Or do you prefer a board make-up backed by one party or another or special interests. Also the fee makes no sense because the cost to print type on newsprint is cheaper than 5,302. As a photographer who used to do press checks for source books a beautiful spread would run around 2500. Pay walls this size leads to barriers... I will redirect my attention to education but I think this is relevant because money should reflect cost and this does not.