★ HOT NEW ISSUE — STILL DAMP ★ ★ WHAT — ME WORRY? ME NEITHER. ★ FREE INSIDE: OUTRAGE, SATIRE & A FREE TOOTHPICK ★ SANTA BARBARA EDITION — NOW WITH 30% MORE SCANDAL ★ THE PAPER YOUR SUPERVISOR DOESN'T WANT YOU READING ★ “BUY THIS RAG OR WE SHOOT THIS DOG.” — THE EDITORS ★ ALL THE NEWS THAT FITS — WE PRINT (AND THEN SOME) ★ EXCLUSIVE: EVERYTHING IS FINE. (NARRATOR: IT WAS NOT.) ★ 100% RECYCLED OUTRAGE · 0% APOLOGIES · 12% INK ★ GOOD CLEAN FUN AT SOMEBODY ELSE'S EXPENSE ★ WARNING: MAY CAUSE SNICKERING IN PUBLIC PLACES ★ READ IT AND WEEP — OR AT LEAST CHUCKLE ★ ★ HOT NEW ISSUE — STILL DAMP ★ ★ WHAT — ME WORRY? ME NEITHER. ★ FREE INSIDE: OUTRAGE, SATIRE & A FREE TOOTHPICK ★ SANTA BARBARA EDITION — NOW WITH 30% MORE SCANDAL ★ THE PAPER YOUR SUPERVISOR DOESN'T WANT YOU READING ★ “BUY THIS RAG OR WE SHOOT THIS DOG.” — THE EDITORS ★ ALL THE NEWS THAT FITS — WE PRINT (AND THEN SOME) ★ EXCLUSIVE: EVERYTHING IS FINE. (NARRATOR: IT WAS NOT.) ★ 100% RECYCLED OUTRAGE · 0% APOLOGIES · 12% INK ★ GOOD CLEAN FUN AT SOMEBODY ELSE'S EXPENSE ★ WARNING: MAY CAUSE SNICKERING IN PUBLIC PLACES ★ READ IT AND WEEP — OR AT LEAST CHUCKLE ★
SATIRE EDITION · SANTA BARBARA COUNTY · ★ TWO BITS ★
The Whipping PostSaturday, May 30, 2026Vol. INo. 1Santa Barbara County · A Satire
Countywide County

Santa Barbara County Politics

The whole county — government, elections, and the issues that cross every city line.

Santa Barbara County stretches from the surf towns of the South Coast to the farm fields of the Santa Maria Valley and the vineyards of the Santa Ynez Valley. It is home to roughly 440,000 residents across a handful of incorporated cities and many unincorporated communities, governed at the top by a five-member Board of Supervisors.

The county is defined by its split personality: a wealthy, tourism-and-university South Coast and an agricultural, working North County, with the Santa Ynez Valley wine country in between. That divide shapes nearly every countywide fight — over housing, water, public safety, cannabis, and how tax dollars get spent.

This hub pulls together countywide political news, video, discussion, the officials who run the place, and the elections that decide its future.

Governance

Governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors (one per district), plus countywide elected officials including the Sheriff, District Attorney, Auditor-Controller, and Assessor. Cities run their own councils.

Elections

Board of Supervisors seats are elected by district on staggered four-year terms. Countywide offices (Sheriff, DA) and state/federal seats also appear on county ballots.

Local Issues

  • Housing supply & CEQA fights
  • Water and groundwater (SGMA)
  • Cannabis regulation
  • Wildfire & disaster recovery
  • North County vs South County spending

Who Represents Santa Barbara County

Salud Carbajal

U.S. Representative, California's 24th District

Federal

Monique Limón

California State Senator, District 21

State

Gregg Hart

California State Assemblymember, District 37

State

Roy Lee

County Supervisor, First District

County

Laura Capps

County Supervisor, Second District

County

Joan Hartmann

County Supervisor, Third District

County

Bob Nelson

County Supervisor, Fourth District

County

Das Williams

Former County Supervisor, First District

County

Steve Lavagnino

County Supervisor, Fifth District

County

Ricardo Valencia

Candidate, County Supervisor, Fifth District

County

Elections in Santa Barbara County

Join the Santa Barbara County discussionSanta Barbara County overview