Facing a challenge from two of his colleagues on the City Council, Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse announced on Monday afternoon that he won’t run for mayor again this November.
“I have made the decision to finish my career at the end of this term,” Rowse said. “My reasons are strictly personal and are not related to any issue or individual, it’s just my time to move on.”
Rowse has run up against a liberal-Democrat council-majority since the election of Wendy Santamaria in 2024. He has consistently opposed rent stabilization, keeping State Street closed to cars, and voted against funding for families impacted by deportations.
His exit from the contest leaves three candidates. Councilmembers Eric Friedman and Kristen Sneddon, and Wendy Sims-Moten, former chair of the Santa Barbara Unified School District board of trustees.
The tone inside City Hall has become increasingly rancorous in recent months. Rowse has been the subject of verbal attacks in the council chamber, from members of the public to his colleague Santamaria, who told Rowse in March during a meeting, “If we are getting frosty or flustered up here then maybe leadership isn’t for you.”
Rowse has had a storied career at City Hall and in public service. His lineage dates back to when Das Williams left the City Council in 2009 to serve in the California State Assembly. Rowse was appointed out of a field of 46 candidates who were interviewed by the City Council.
Prior to that, Rowse served on the Downtown Parking Committee. He owned the Paradise Cafe for 37 years before selling it in 2009 to Acme Hospitality. Rowse served the last two years of Williams’ terms—then was elected twice to the Santa Barbara City Council.
Start your morning with DAYBREAK, our email newsletter bringing you the essential local stories you need to start your day.
By clicking sign up, you are agreeing to our terms.
He was done with public service but came out of retirement in 2020 to run for mayor. At the time, he said he did not like the way that Santa Barbara Police Department officers were being villainized in the aftermath of the national conversation following the murder of George Floyd.
He ousted incumbent Cathy Murillo to win the mayor’s seat in 2021. He also served as a member of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments and recently visited Washington D.C., along with Buellton Mayor David Silva and Fourth District Santa Barbara County Supervisor Bob Nelson to meet with federal officials to seek transportation funding.
Rowse’s departure dramatically reshapes the landscape of the mayor’s race. Sneddon disagreed with Rowse on rent stabilization, State Street and funding for immigrant families, and she recently won the endorsement of the Santa Barbara County Democratic Party.
“Randy has been dedicated to serving Santa Barbara for many years and I am wishing him all the best,” Sneddon told the News-Press. “In the meantime, we have a lot of work to do in balancing our budget and planning for our community and our sustainable future.”
Sneddon, who has served two terms on the City Council, said she will remain focused on her campaign.
“My campaign for mayor hasn’t changed: listening to the concerns of residents and acting decisively for the people of Santa Barbara,” Sneddon said. “There is so much here to protect and to carry forward in a positive vision for our future.”
Friedman agreed with Rowse on many issues, but has a longer record of working for Democratic causes. Friedman worked as a district aide for Rep. Salud Carbajal, when Carbajal was a member of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.
Friedman, who grew up in Lompoc after high rents forced him and his mother out of Santa Barbara as a child, thanked Rowse for his years of service.
“He has always been a champion of our city, especially downtown, and advocated for policies he thought would benefit all residents,” Friedman said.
Friedman said that when he suffered a heart attack last year, Rowse “was there for me and my family in ways that went far beyond the professional.”
“In one of the most frightening and difficult moments of my life, he showed up as a friend, and that’s something I will never forget,” Friedman said.
Sims-Moten has also said she plans to run for the mayor’s seat. Rowse’s departure leaves three Democrats vying for the seat, which could incentivize a Republican to jump into the race amid Democrats splitting votes.
Rowse in his statement said “it has been a pleasure and a great honor to serve the people of Santa Barbara over a nearly 14-year career on Council.”
“I will continue to focus on my office and now can do so without the distraction of running and maintaining a campaign simultaneously,” Rowse said. “I truly love this city and have enjoyed the opportunity afforded to me. I’m not going anywhere and plan to be engaged in city issues and events in the future.”
The Santa Barbara News-Press was launched in 1868 (some say even earlier). Until 2023 it was your hometown paper, and now we’re relaunching it with your help.
Our goal is to return the Santa Barbara News-Press to its original standard of excellence and create something new that’s bold, daring and powerful. We will focus on the issues that impact our community: housing, development, transportation, education, business and state and national decisions that affect us locally from food, health care and deportations to the economy and the environment.
As a nonprofit, we’re relying on community support to refound the News-Press. Will you join us and your neighbors by becoming a News-Press Partner today? We are all in this together.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Joshua Molina is editor of the News-Press and an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years of reporting across the South Coast. He is a professor of journalism at Santa Barbara City College and host of local news show SB Talks with Josh Molina. More by Joshua Molina • Santa Barbara News-Press
The Santa Barbara News-Press was launched in 1868 (some say even earlier). Until 2023 it was your hometown paper, and now we’re relaunching it with your help.
Our goal is to return the Santa Barbara News-Press to its original standard of excellence and create something new that’s bold, daring and powerful. We will focus on the issues that impact our community: housing, development, transportation, education, business and state and national decisions that affect us locally from food, health care and deportations to the economy and the environment.
As a nonprofit, we’re relying on community support to refound the News-Press. Will you join us and your neighbors by becoming a News-Press Partner today? We are all in this together.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Advertise
Our team
Our story
Submit
Republication
Contact us
Jobs
Newsletters
Corrections
Supporters
Will you join us by becoming a News-Press Partner and supporting Santa Barbara County news today?
