Santa Barbara City Election: A Three-Way Race to Win District 5

A three-way contest is taking shape on Santa Barbara's Westside of State Street politics: with incumbent Eric Friedman leaving his City Council seat to run for mayor, candidates Ian Baucke, James Zurlinden, and Cevin Cathell are competing to represent District 5 in the November election, according to the Santa Barbara Independent.

District 5 is one of the city's most distinctive council districts, covering the neighborhoods around upper State Street, Las Positas, La Cumbre, and San Roque. The seat is open because Friedman, the district's current representative, is making a bid for mayor rather than seeking reelection — meaning District 5 residents will have a new voice on the seven-member council regardless of the outcome.

The race's first major public milestone comes September 17, when the Independent hosts its District 5 candidate forum, giving voters a chance to see the contenders side by side.

Ian Baucke: The Early Front-Runner

At 27, Baucke has emerged as the early leader in the contest, earning the official endorsements of both the state and county Democratic parties — a significant advantage in a city where party-endorsed candidates historically get a boost at the polls, as the Independent reported.

Baucke's political roots run deep in Santa Barbara. A San Marcos High School graduate born at Cottage Hospital, he studied at George Washington University and now serves as a district representative for State Senator Monique Limón. He also chairs the city's Transportation and Circulation Committee. His father, John Baucke, is a longtime member of the city's Planning Commission.

His endorsement list is lengthy: the Sierra Club, Santa Barbara Tenants Union, SEIU Local 620, CAUSE Action Fund, Democratic Socialists of Santa Barbara, and the California Working Families Party, along with elected officials including Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte, Buellton Mayor David Silva, former Assemblymember Das Williams, and Councilmember Wendy Santamaria.

Baucke has also led the field financially, the Independent reported, raising nearly $7,000 in the first half of the year — roughly $4,500 remaining after expenses — plus about $2,000 in additional donations since.

Baucke said he wants to "cut red tape for homeowners and small businesses, expand affordable housing, protect our environment, and make our streets safer." He pointed to his work on safe routes to school, e-bike safety, and infrastructure improvements along Las Positas, State Street, and Calle Real.

James Zurlinden: A Fresh Voice from Business

Former chef turned finance professional James Zurlinden is positioning himself as an outsider representing residents who "feel like they don't have a voice in the decisions shaping our community."

Zurlinden lived in Santa Barbara before moving to Arizona in the early 2000s, returning 13 years ago. He says careers in both the culinary arts and finance gave him firsthand insight into the pressures facing small businesses and working households — and he frames affordability in personal terms.

"I've spent sleepless nights doing the math on rent, groceries and everything else that it takes to live in the city that you love," Zurlinden said. "It's not just a talking point to me. I've lived it, just like many in our community."

On policy, Zurlinden has backed cutting bureaucratic red tape for businesses, reopening parts of State Street, and rent stabilization as a potential help for struggling families. He has voiced no endorsements so far, and his campaign finances are modest: a single $500 donation — from himself — leaving roughly $113 after expenses, according to the Independent.

Cevin Cathell: Nonprofit Veteran, Political Newcomer

Former film producer Cevin Cathell rounds out the field. Though new to electoral politics, she brings decades of nonprofit volunteer experience to the race. The Independent's full profile of Cathell was not complete in the published text reviewed for this article, so voters will likely hear more from and about her as the campaign progresses and the September 17 forum approaches.

What's at Stake for District 5

The race comes at a consequential moment for the neighborhoods the district encompasses. Upper State Street has been the focus of ongoing debates over the corridor's future, with advocacy groups like Strong Towns Santa Barbara pushing for a more people-centered redesign — a position Baucke has publicly supported. Infrastructure questions along Las Positas and Calle Real, housing affordability, and the pace of business permitting all sit squarely within the district's concerns.

Whoever wins will join a council navigating the continued transformation of State Street, persistent housing pressures, and budget decisions that shape city services — while also serving a district that includes some of the city's most engaged neighborhood associations.

Notably, all three candidates have engaged with the affordability theme in some form, with both Baucke and Zurlinden expressing support for rent stabilization — a signal of how central cost-of-living concerns have become even in a district known for its established, owner-heavy neighborhoods.

For voters, the September 17 candidate forum, hosted by the Independent, offers the first opportunity to compare the candidates directly. Election Day is November 3, 2026, and District 5 residents can verify their district and registration through the Santa Barbara County elections office.

With a well-funded, heavily endorsed insider; a self-funded outsider; and a nonprofit newcomer, the District 5 race offers voters a clear choice about the kind of representation they want as the city charts its next chapter — and as their current representative tries to move one seat down the dais to the mayor's office.