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<p>Santa Barbara should be more than a beautiful place the world loves to visit. It should be a place where the people who keep this city running — the teachers, the nurses, the restaurant workers, the first responders — can actually afford to live, raise their kids, and build a future.</p><p>Eric’s focus as mayor will be making sure that opportunity reaches the people who call Santa Barbara home through affordable housing, strong schools and libraries, and public services you can count on.</p>

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<h2><span style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">Eric Friedman likes to say he’s “the library guy who can balance a budget — and who won’t let anybody put Santa Barbara in a corner.” </span></h2><span class="image image-base image-left" style="width: 40%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/580e2b32-1f43-4b02-8c91-b966389e69c7/29c2f8d8-8373-4ec8-ad92-066117ce9bd9/29c2f8d8-8373-4ec8-ad92-066117ce9bd9.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=3&amp;con=0&amp;sat=8&amp;high=0&amp;shad=26&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C8256%2C6192&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" variant="base"></span><span class="caption" style="display: none;"></span></span><h5>With 25 years of public and community service, Eric has the proven experience that delivers results. For the past eight years, he’s shown up at City Hall to do the work of governing as a City Councilmember, and he’s shown up at his job at Trader Joe’s to do the work his neighbors count on.</h5><p>Eric grew up in Santa Barbara and Lompoc. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and after surviving winters in South Bend, Indiana, he returned to Santa Barbara in 1999 and has lived here ever since. He and his wife Julie have been married for 22 years, and they’re raising their two sons right here — along with their dog, Morgan Friedman.</p><p>Eric sees what’s happening in this city because he’s living it alongside everyone else. Grocery bills that keep climbing. Rents that push out families who’ve been here for years. Young people who grew up in Santa Barbara but can’t afford to stay. He hears it at work, at council meetings, and in conversations with neighbors who are doing everything right and still feel like they’re barely keeping up. That’s what keeps him going.</p><p>When Eric sees a challenge Santa Barbarans are facing, he gets to work. Eric created Santa Barbara’s Local Housing Trust Fund and secured more than $4 million to build housing that working families can actually afford. He played a major role in turning Library Plaza into an award-winning public gathering space that brought new life to downtown. He’s taken limited, one-time money and turned it into long-term investments — strengthening city services. He brings the kind of steady, responsible leadership that ensures your tax dollars are going where they should.</p><span class="image image-base image-right" style="width: 40%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/580e2b32-1f43-4b02-8c91-b966389e69c7/6295fc95-817b-4490-b983-b1486bb37b1d/6295fc95-817b-4490-b983-b1486bb37b1d.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C7728%2C5152&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" variant="base"></span><span class="caption" style="display: none;"></span></span><p>Eric knows the power of community coming together to support each other. He witnessed this firsthand when he suffered a life-threatening heart attack while paddleboarding last year. From the first responders who saved his life to the public and community leaders who welcomed him back to the Council with open arms, the overwhelming support he and his family received throughout his recovery reminded him why he works every day to give back to the city that has given him so much.</p><p>He currently serves as President of the California League of Cities Channel Counties Division and has represented Santa Barbara on regional and statewide committees focused on emergency preparedness, environmental sustainability, housing affordability and making sure our city has a voice in decisions that affect us. Before joining City Council, he spent 14 years working for County Supervisors Naomi Schwartz and Salud Carbajal and earned a Master’s in Public Administration from Cal State Northridge, while also serving on a number of local nonprofit Boards.</p><p>For Eric, it comes down to this: Santa Barbara is home — for his family and for thousands of families who love this city as much as he does. As our Mayor, he’ll work to make sure it stays that way.</p><span class="image image-base image-center" style="width: 50%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/580e2b32-1f43-4b02-8c91-b966389e69c7/35fa22b7-363a-472b-afa7-331aa4b4e3a3/35fa22b7-363a-472b-afa7-331aa4b4e3a3.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C8256%2C6192&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="25" variant="base"></span><span class="caption" style="display: none;"></span></span>

<h2>Eric's Coalition of Support</h2>

<h6>mayor of Santa Barbara </h6>

<h4>Randy Rowse</h4>

<h6>santa barbara city councilmember</h6>

<h4>Mike Jordan</h4>

<h6>Santa Barbara County Treasurer Tax Collector</h6>

<h4>Harry Hagen</h4>

<h6>carpinteria city Councilmember &amp; Business Owner</h6>

<h4>Julia Mayer</h4>

<h6>carpinteria city Councilmember</h6>

<h4>Al Clark</h4>

<h6>Carpinteria City Councilmember</h6>

<h4>Wade Nomura</h4>

<h6>Ventura County SupervisoR</h6>

<h4>Matt LaVere</h4>

<h6>Mayor of Ventura</h6>

<h4>Jeanette Palacios Sanchez</h4>

<h6>Ventura City Councilmember</h6>

<h4>Christy Weir</h4>

<h6>mayor of Pismo Beach</h6>

<h4>Ed Waage</h4>

<h6>Councilmember &amp; Former Mayor of Pacifica</h6>

<h4>Sue Beckmeyer</h4>

<h6>Humboldt County Supervisor &amp; Coastal Commissioner*</h6>

<h4>Mike Wilson</h4>

<h6>Carlsbad city Councilmember</h6>

<h4>Teresa Acosta</h4>

<h6>San Luis obispo County Supervisor</h6>

<h4>Bruce Gibson</h4>

<h6>Chico city councilmember</h6>

<h4>Tom Van Overbeek</h4>

<h6>santa cruz city councilmember</h6>

<h4>Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson</h4>

<h6>San Clemente city councilmember</h6>

<h4>Mark Enmeier</h4>

<h6>coronado city councilmember</h6>

<h4>Amy Steward</h4>

<h6>Port Hueneme Mayor Pro Tem</h6>

<h4>Laura Hernandez</h4>

<h6>Port Hueneme city councilmember</h6>

<h4>Steven Gama</h4>

<h6>Fort Bragg city Councilmember</h6>

<h4>Tess Albin-Smith</h4>

<h6>Grover Beach City Councilmember</h6>

<h4>Clint Weirick</h4>

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<h1>About Eric Friedman</h1>

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<h4>Affordable Housing</h4>

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<h3>Working for Santa Barbara</h3><p>Eric’s focus as mayor will be making sure that opportunity reaches the people who call Santa Barbara home through affordable housing, strong schools and libraries, and public services you can count on.</p>

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<h4 style="text-align: center;">Council Leadership and Committee Roles</h4><p style="text-align: center;">Current Chair, Finance Committee <em>(2018 - Present)</em></p><p style="text-align: center;">Current Chair <em>(2019 - Present)</em>, Central Coast Water Authority <em>(2018 - Present)</em></p><p style="text-align: center;">Current Chair, Beach Erosion Authority for Clean Oceans and Nourishment</p><p style="text-align: center;">Sea Level Rise Adaptation Committee</p><p style="text-align: center;">Long Range Development Oversight Committee</p><p style="text-align: center;">Homeless Adhoc Committee</p><p style="text-align: center;">Airport Commission Liaison</p><p style="text-align: center;">Sustainability Committee</p><p style="text-align: center;">Legislative Committee</p><p style="text-align: center;">Library Board Liaison</p><p style="text-align: center;">Harbor Commissioner <em>(2009 - 2013)</em></p><p style="text-align: center;">City Library Advisory Board <em>(2004 - 2014)</em></p><h4 style="text-align: center;">California League of Cities</h4><p style="text-align: center;">President Channel Counties Division <em>(2025 - Present)</em></p><p style="text-align: center;"> Past Chair, Coastal Cities Group Appointee</p><p style="text-align: center;">Coastal Commission Local Government Working Group <em>(2020 - Present)</em></p><p style="text-align: center;">Environmental Quality Policy Subcommittee</p>

<h3 style="text-align: center;">Policy Successes on the Santa Barbara City Council:</h3><ul><li><p><strong>Proposed and led the effort to create the Local Housing Trust Fund.</strong> The LHFT the most pro-affordable housing policy tools adopted by Council. Eric’s leadership led to the creation of the fund and an initial allocation of $3M without adding to the deficit through the responsible use of one-time surplus funding.</p></li><li><p><strong>Library Plaza Renovation.</strong> Secured funding from the City to finalize the design of library plaza and solidify the public private partnership with the Library Foundation that led to over $5M in private funding to transform into the award-winning Michael Towbes Library Plaza.</p></li><li><p><strong>Family Summer Nights.</strong> Led the effort on Council to partner with the School District to create Family Summer Nights over two consecutive summers. This was a joint effort between the City, School District and Boys and Girls club to provide safe and enriching family activities on the East and West side of Santa Barbara during the summer months.</p></li><li><p><strong>Proposed the Pension Trust Fund </strong>in collaboration with Finance Director to address the City’s unfunded pension liability.</p></li><li><p><strong>New Police Station</strong>. Made the motion to move forward with the new Police Station. When complete, the new station will improve public safety by modernizing our infrastructure, enhance transparency and accountability, provide new opportunities for recruitment and retention and enable affordable housing creation at the former police station site.</p></li><li><p><strong>Coastal Commission Collaboration on “Neighborhood Approach” to coastal planning.</strong> As a member of the Coastal Commission Local Government Working Group, Eric worked with colleagues from throughout the state and the Coastal Commission to develop the Neighborhood Approach to coastal planning that allows for local flexibility to solve unique challenges while maintaining statewide consistency.</p></li></ul>

<h2 style="text-align: center;">"Santa Barbara is home — for my family and for thousands of families who love this city as much as I do. As your Mayor, I'll work tirelessly to make sure it stays that way."</h2><h6 style="text-align: center;">– Eric Friedman</h6>

<h1>25 Years of Community Volunteer &amp; Public Service</h1>

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Eric is running for mayor to make sure opportunity reaches the people who call Santa Barbara home through affordable housing, strong schools and libraries, and public services you can count on. Get involved today!

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What has Eric Friedman actually delivered? A year-by-year record of his work on the Santa Barbara City Council since 2018, project by project.

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What would Eric Friedman do as Mayor? His plans for housing affordability, the city budget, wildfire readiness, sustainability, and downtown Santa Barbara.

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Santa Barbara Mayor candidate Eric Friedman: eight years on City Council delivering affordable housing, balanced budgets, and emergency readiness

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Read the latest coverage of Eric Friedman's run for Mayor of Santa Barbara — press, opinion, and local reporting on the issues facing the city in 2026.

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<p>Santa Barbara knows firsthand the devastation that can come with natural disasters, and those experiences have made the city one of the most prepared in the country for emergency planning. Even so, preparation is never finished. Santa Barbara must continue investing in modern technologies, best practices, and public education to remain ready for future challenges.</p><p>During Eric’s time on Council, he worked with colleagues and public safety professionals to strengthen our emergency response infrastructure. He led the Council decision to approve construction of a new police station that will enhance community safety and modernize critical facilities that has kept the Measure C promise. He supported the update to the City’s Wildfire Protection Plan which has implemented modern strategies and data-driven approaches to address the growing risks of wildland fires driven by climate change.</p><p>Emergency readiness also means ensuring rapid response when seconds matter. Eric supported the Regional Fire Communications Center, which dispatches the closest available fire crew regardless of jurisdiction — improving response times and saving lives.</p><p>As Mayor, Eric will continue prioritizing emergency preparedness and public safety by investing in infrastructure, supporting wildfire mitigation efforts, and working with state partners to address insurance affordability and resilience. He will also champion housing and community solutions that allow our first responders to live and serve here, strengthening our ability to respond quickly and effectively. Preparedness is an ongoing responsibility, and Eric is committed to ensuring Santa Barbara remains ready for whatever challenges the future brings.</p>

Wildfire mitigation, a new police station, regional fire dispatch, and housing so first responders can live here — Eric Friedman's public safety plan.

Emergency Preparedness & Safety | Eric Friedman for SB Mayor

<p>Continue prioritizing emergency preparedness and public safety by investing in infrastructure, supporting wildfire mitigation efforts, and working with state partners to address insurance affordability and resilience</p>

<h2>Emergency Preparedness &amp; Safety</h2>

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<h4>Trader Joe’s Named No. 1 Employer as Santa Barbara Workers Define Its Appeal</h4>

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<h4>One on One with Mayoral Candidate Eric Friedman</h4>

<h4>Eric Friedman Stresses Fiscal Restraint, Anti-Rent Control Stance in Bid for S.B. Mayor</h4>

<h4>With FEMA Shrinking, what can Wildfire-Prone Communities do? Santa Barbara might have an answer</h4>

<p>The rising cost of housing threatens Santa Barbara’s long-term resilience. Addressing it is not about changing what makes Santa Barbara special — it is about ensuring opportunity so the next generation can call the city home. Eric’s approach has always been practical and collaborative: expanding housing supply, increasing affordable options, and streamlining development processes so projects that meet community needs can move forward responsibly.</p><p>Eric proposed the initiative that established the Local Housing Trust Fund and secured millions of dollars in funding for affordable housing projects, and he led the effort to convert a previously approved market-rate development into a project that included 20% affordable units — proof that partnership and creativity can deliver results. As Mayor, Eric will continue bringing housing providers, businesses, and community leaders together to expand opportunity while preserving the character of our city.</p><p>Santa Barbara should remain a place where working families and longtime residents can afford to live and thrive — a community that balances its natural beauty with economic and housing solutions that serve everyone.</p>

Eric Friedman proposed the Local Housing Trust Fund and led the effort to add 20% affordable units to a market-rate project. His housing plan for Santa Barbara Mayor.

Affordable Housing in Santa Barbara | Eric Friedman

<p>Expanding housing supply, increasing affordable options, and streamlining development processes so projects that meet community needs can move forward responsibly</p>

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<h2>Affordable Housing</h2>

<p>Santa Barbara is internationally recognized for its natural beauty, unique character, and cultural vitality — qualities that come from the authenticity of its residents and draw visitors from around the world. &nbsp;No place captures this renowned spirit more than State Street and historic El Pueblo Viejo. &nbsp;<span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">As our community comes together to re-imagine State Street it is critical we have the right leadership in place to seize the incredible opportunity before us. </strong></span>&nbsp;This is why Eric was appointed to the Paso Nuevo Ad Hoc Committee that is working to shape the future of this critical downtown asset and was part of the leadership team that comprised the Public Private Partnership between the City and the Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation that transformed Michael Towbes Library Plaza into an award winning public open space in the heart of downtown.</p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">As Mayor, Eric Friedman will build on his work with the community to ensure that State Street retains its historic character while embracing its role as a robust center of civic, economic and cultural vitality. </strong></span>Efforts like the State Street Master Plan, redevelopment of Paseo Nuevo, and improvements to public spaces must reflect community input and lessons from other cities — balancing innovation with the everyday rhythms of local life. For example, Eric is a proponent of the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance because he understands what is possible when the city listens to the public and streamlines processes to create more housing and opportunity for local small businesses.</p><p>As our next Mayor, Eric will continue advancing solutions that create housing opportunities in our downtown core, reduce red tape for small businesses, and activate public spaces with events and programming that enhance Santa Barbara's cultural vibrancy. By fostering collaboration and removing barriers to investment, State Street will thrive for decades to come. </p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Preserving the city's character while building an economic foundation that works for everyone is not just possible — it is Eric's commitment to Santa Barbara.</strong></span></p>

<p>As Mayor, Eric Friedman will build on his work with the community to ensure that State Street retains its historic character while embracing its role as a robust center of civic, economic and cultural vitality.</p>

<h2>State Street and Downtown</h2>

<h4>California cities are fighting back against a federal offshore drilling proposal</h4>

<h4>Eric Friedman: The choice is simple: discipline or deficits</h4>

<p>Balancing the budget is the City Council's most important responsibility. When revenues and expenditures are out of alignment, the city cannot fully invest in the services and infrastructure the community relies on. Persistent deficits erode public trust and limit the ability to deliver the programs that sustain Santa Barbara's economy and quality of life. For Eric, fiscal responsibility is the foundation of effective leadership and public confidence — and getting it right is non-negotiable.<br><br>Eric has spent eight years on the Finance Committee working to control spending, increase transparency, and use one-time funds strategically for long-term stability. In 2022, when the city realized a one-time surplus, Eric advanced a plan that balanced immediate needs with future security — returning funds to the General Fund, investing in the Local Housing Trust Fund, and addressing unfunded pension liabilities through the Pension Trust Fund, which has become the city's highest-performing investment.<br><br>Voters approved Measures C and I to strengthen revenue and support community investments — and Eric believes those resources must be managed responsibly. He has opposed budgets that relied too heavily on reserves without clear repayment plans or that increased deficits when alternatives existed. Fiscal discipline does not mean cutting services; it means making strategic decisions that protect long-term stability while delivering results.<br><br>As Mayor, Eric will continue this approach — transparent budgeting, careful stewardship of public funds, and collaborative solutions that maximize resources and align with community priorities. A balanced budget ensures Santa Barbara can invest in the services that matter most and preserve what makes it a thriving, resilient community for generations to come.</p>

Finance Committee Chair Eric Friedman on Santa Barbara's budget: balanced spending, rebuilt reserves, and no more drawing on emergency funds.

Santa Barbara City Budget | Eric Friedman for Mayor

<p>Transparent budgeting, careful stewardship of public funds, and collaborative solutions that maximize resources and align with community priorities</p>

<h2>Fiscal Responsibility</h2>

<h4>Santa Barbara Councilman Eric Friedman Announces Bid for Mayor</h4>

<h4>Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse cancels re-election bid, leaving three Democrats vying for top spot</h4>

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<p>Santa Barbara has a long legacy of environmental leadership. After the 1969 oil spill off the coast, the Santa Barbara community helped shape landmark environmental policies — including the creation of the EPA and the passage of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act — that continue to benefit communities nationwide. Santa Barbara pioneered Earth Day and curbside recycling, demonstrating that local action can set global standards and protect the natural beauty that defines our city.</p><p>As your Councilmember, Eric worked to build on this commitment by advancing policies grounded in science and focused on climate resilience and sustainability. His Leadership helped created Santa Barbara Clean Energy, establish the Sustainability and Resilience Department, and update the City’s Local Coastal Plan for the first time in decades. He has also served in regional and statewide leadership roles on coastal and environmental issues, including efforts to address sea level rise and coastal protection. Eric is recognized as a statewide leader on coastal sea level rise adaptation and has been appointed as a local government representative to the Ocean Protection Council State Sea Level Rise Collaborative.&nbsp;</p><p>As Mayor, Eric will continue the Santa Barbara legacy of environmental stewardship — pursuing practical, science-based solutions that protect our community, strengthen resilience, and preserve the natural resources that make Santa Barbara extraordinary. Environmental responsibility and economic opportunity are not competing values; they work together to ensure a thriving community for future generations.</p>

Eric Friedman on State Street's future: the Master Plan, Paseo Nuevo redevelopment, adaptive reuse housing, and fewer barriers for small business.

State Street & Downtown | Eric Friedman for Mayor

<p>Pursuing practical, science-based solutions that protect our community, strengthen resilience, and preserve the natural resources that make Santa Barbara extraordinary</p>