TV: Das, Laura Clash on Pot, Political Reform & Public Schools

The first face-to-face confrontation between Das Williams and Laura Capps played out on the Newsmakers TV set Tuesday night, a contentious but respectful one-hour discussion of key issues in their race for supervisor in SB County's First District.

At the center of the exchange, moderated by host Jerry Roberts, was Santa Barbara County’s controversial cannabis ordinance, and Supervisor Williams’ pivotal role in crafting it, as he and SB school board President Capps tangled over its impact on public schools, public health and public trust in local government.

While pot dominated the early portion of the conversation, the rivals also aired their views – and even found occasional agreement – on a host of other public policy matters, including climate change, public safety, the Montecito debris flow disaster, child poverty, homelessness and housing.

Tuesday night’s program is the first of four events in which the two candidates will meet in coming weeks, as the Montecito Journal, Santa Barbara Independent and League of Women Voters all are sponsoring forums featuring the two. Because there are only two candidates on the March 3 ballot, the First District election is a winner-take-all contest, with no November runoff.

This week’s show is now online on our YouTube Channel, and also will be shown on TV Santa Barbara, Cox Channel 17, between now and the election. It’s all here, right now, on Newsmakers TV.

And the podcast version is here.

JR