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Member, Air Pollution Control District, present
Member, Central Coast Collaborative on Homelessness, present
Member, Multi-Jurisdictional Solid Waste Task Force, present
Member, Partners in Education, present
Member, Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, present
Member, South Coast Task Force on Youth Gangs, present
Former President, League of California Cities Channel Counties Division.
Former Co-Chair, United States Conference of Mayors Housing & Homelessness Task Force
No committee memberships found.
Priority Issues:
My priorities are simple. I plan to pursue an agenda that focuses on helping Californians reach their full potential by creating more good paying jobs, growing the middle class, advancing more progressive environmental protection policies, investing in our infrastructure and education, defending Medicare and Social Security, and ensuring equal pay for equal work for all Americans.
Reason for Seeking Public Office:
I am running for Congress to get things done in Washington. We need more common sense and fewer political stalemates. During my tenure as Mayor of the City of Santa Barbara, I have focused on working with a politically diverse City Council to find common ground on policies affecting our entire community, while steadfastly defending my core values of economic opportunity, environmental protection and prudent financial stewardship. As Santa Barbara's Mayor and an active member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, I have worked in a non-partisan capacity on local and national issues with Mayors from every corner of the country. This experience and ability to work with others of different backgrounds gives me the tools necessary to be a coalition-builder in Washington in order to tackle some of our nation's most pressing challenges.
1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice
2. Other or expanded principles
- A woman's health care decision should be between her and her doctor, not legislators. Women have the right to make decisions regarding their own bodies. Having worked at Planned Parenthood for over a decade, women's rights and access to health care are paramount issues for me. Women should be able to make reproductive health care-related decisions in consultation with their medical provider and family. Congress needs to stop restricting women's reproductive health, and finally give women equality in America. In Congress I will fight for a woman's right to choose.
1. In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
- Yes
2. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes
3. Other or expanded principles
- We need to look carefully at the ways in which the wealthy and well-connected take advantage of our tax code and make the income gap in our country grow even wider. I support an income tax increase on the top percent of earners and ending tax loopholes for corporations.
1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes
2. Other or expanded principles
- The Citizens United decision has created a political environment in which shady, dark-money groups are able to manipulate our elections in ways that were never before possible. I will support Congressional action to stop the affects of that ruling and put the power of elections back where it belongs: in the hands of the people.
1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No
2. Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
- Yes
3. Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders?
- No
4. Other or expanded principles
- The United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. If we are to truly be a free and democratic country, we need to work towards keeping people out of prison, not just throwing them in there. When California passed Prop 47, we took that first step to stop incarcerating citizens for small and non-violent crimes. This policy was a good first step, and in Congress I will continue to take these small steps in the right direction.
1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes
2. Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes
3. Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation?
- Yes
4. Other or expanded principles
- By lowering taxes on workers in the lowest brackets, we can send money flowing back through the economy -- which causes growth in industries across the board.
1. Do you support requiring states to implement education reforms in order to be eligible for competitive federal grants?
- Yes
2. Other or expanded principles
- While the specifics of K-12 curriculum and policy should be left to states and local school boards, the federal government should work with these local elected officials to ensure that our K-12 education is consistently high across the country. The federal government has a role in setting certain foundational standards.
1. Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline?
- No
2. Do you support funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes
3. Do you support increased regulations on the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry?
- Yes
4. Other or expanded principles
- We must end our addiction to oil and grow an economy based on clean and renewable energy sources. I support a ban on tracking. As Mayor, I have a strong record of leading by example in creating a sustainable organization: natural gas usage in City facilities has decreased to its lowest levels since 2002; using a fuel cell were converting the methane gas created at the wastewater treatment plant into electricity that powers the plant; and a more energy efficient use has saved almost $500,000 per year in electricity costs.
1. Do you believe that human activity is contributing to climate change?
- Yes
2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes
3. Other or expanded principles
- In Congress, I'll work to advance common sense policies that help get us there on a national level. Using California's landmark AB32 as a national model, I'll strive to toughen mileage standards, invest more in and promote clean technologies like wind, solar, electric cars, and cutting edge oil alternatives like biofuel and hydrogen fuel, and more. Protecting open spaces and wildlife are also paramount. As a city leader, I fought against sprawling development and advocated for expanded parkland. I am an advocate towards preserving open spaces, such as the Gaviota Coast, and protecting healthy National Marine Life Sanctuary areas.
1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes
2. Other or expanded principles
- For far too long the United States has dealt with senseless acts of gun violence that can and should be prevented by the implementation of tougher laws that aim to curb gun violence. As Mayor of Santa Barbara, I have worked with the Santa Barbara Police Department and the Coalition Against Gun Violence on gun buy-back events, as a Member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and I have consistently supported common sense gun legislation in California and nationally. In Washington, I will work to advance smart gun violence prevention policies like a ban on assault weapons and universal background checks.
1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No
2. Other or expanded principles
- While I support the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and believe it's lightyears ahead of our previously broken health care system, the fact is that it's far from perfect. Still too many Americans go without healthcare and the new system has some flaws that need to be worked out. Ultimately, I believe America should get to a universal healthcare system where everyone is covered. In Congress, I plan to work hard to improve the ACA by increasing access to quality healthcare for all Americans.
1. Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- No
2. Other or expanded principles
- On a federal level we need comprehensive immigration reform that includes securing the border, allowing people to have pathway to become legal residents and citizens, and changing the type of rhetoric that we use to describe immigration, immigrants, and the other. Thus, while far from perfect, I support the recent bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform plan passed by the United States Senate that secures the border, includes a roadmap to citizenship for aspiring citizens in our country, and allows the millions of people living in the shadows to formally join our society and work their way to becoming legal U.S. residents.
1. Do you support same-sex marriage?
- Yes
2. Other or expanded principles
- As an outspoken LGBT advocate in our region, I have been on the forefront of the equality movement for over a decade. From my impact on Santa Barbara's No on Prop 22 -- a measure aiming to ban same-sex marriage -- to initiating a Santa Barbara City resolution to oppose President Bush's Constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman, I have been a strong voice for the LGBT community. In Congress I will fight for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). As Mayor I have had the pleasure of officiating at several same-sex weddings.
1. Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict?
- No
2. Should the U.S use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the United States from possessing a nuclear weapon?
- Yes
3. Other or expanded principles
- Diplomacy should always be the first approach in dealing with hostile foreign governments, with a goal of easing tensions and preventing violence. I support military intervention as a last resort.
1. Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?
- No
2. Other or expanded principles
- Seniors deserve to retire with respect and dignity. Medicare and Social Security have been central to accomplishing this for generations of retired Americans. These are some of our most vulnerable citizens, who worked hard during their careers, played by the rules, paid their dues, and now should be able to live comfortably in retirement. I believe the government should honor its promise and ensure that retired Americans are given the Medicare and Social Security benefits that they've earned. Diverting any of those Social Security funds into private accounts weakens the safety net that our seniors have worked hard to build.
1. Agriculture
- Slightly Increase
2. Arts
- Slightly Increase
3. Defense
- Slightly Decrease
4. Education
- Greatly Increase
5. Environment
- Greatly Increase
6. Homeland Security
- Maintain Status
7. International aid
- Slightly Increase
8. Medical Research
- Greatly Increase
9. Scientific Research
- Greatly Increase
10. Space exploration
- Maintain Status
11. United Nations
- Maintain Status
12. Welfare
- Maintain Status
13. Other or expanded categories
- Many of these topics are interconnected -- funding for the arts is an economic development issue. Education is part of safety and crime prevention. And international aid has a direct effect on homeland security. Our approach must be comprehensive, with an understanding of how these things work together.
1. Capital gains taxes
- Slightly Increase
2. Corporate taxes
- Slightly Increase
3. Small business taxes
- Slightly Decrease
4. Excise taxes (alcohol)
- Slightly Increase
5. Excise taxes (cigarettes)
- Greatly Increase
6. Excise taxes (transportation fuel)
- Slightly Increase
7. Income taxes (low-income families)
- Eliminate
8. Income taxes (middle-income families)
- Greatly Decrease
9. Income taxes (high-income families)
- Slightly Increase
10. Inheritance taxes
- Maintain Status
11. Payroll taxes
- Maintain Status
12. Other or expanded categories
- We need to close loopholes that are being exploited by corporations and the wealthy. I support a progressive tax system that allows our workers to have more money in their pockets, which in turn grows the economy.
Please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- As Santa Barbara's Mayor, I'm running for Congress to bring solutions to tackle our nation's problems and to move America forward. I'll fight for our Central Coast values: against the discrimination of women, against Washington politicians dictating women's reproductive healthcare rights, against all forms of inequality, and against gutting Social Security and Medicare. At the same time, I plan to work to break through the gridlock and find common ground on key issues where both parties can agree: job creation, empowering small businesses, expanding the middle class, improving our education system, addressing student loan debt, and protecting our natural resources.
