County 12-4

The hotly contested race for California’s 19th Senate District ended late on 11/26 when Hannah-Beth Jackson conceded to her opponent, Tony Strickland. Jackson’s concession followed three weeks of waiting for the remaining votes to roll in. Though some still remained uncounted, Jackson acknowledged that victory for her was mathematically impossible. Nonetheless, Jackson carried Santa Barbara County by 15,000 votes. (/jackson1204)

•••

The Naples debate is scheduled to return to the County Board of Supervisors on 12/9. While the board approved the controversial Gaviota Coast development project in October, they provided the Coastal Commission with a Notice of Final Action that, according to commission staff, failed to properly describe the project. Chief among the commission’s concerns was the decision to allow the project’s inland portions to be developed before the Coastal Commission approves the near-shore portions.

•••

The 2008 election brought the highest percentage of county voters to the polls since 1964. More than 86 percent of registered voters participated in this year’s election, according to County Clerk-Recorder Joe Holland, who certified the results on 12/2. That number is compared to just 64 percent in 1996. Despite the certification, Steve Pappas has yet to concede to Doreen Farr in the 3rd District race. Citing “recent developments today [12/2],” Pappas wouldn’t comment on the election. Nancy Crawford-Hall, a Pappas supporter and owner of the Santa Ynez Valley Journal, editorialized in her weekly that Pappas may have an issue with how voters were registered in Isla Vista.

•••

As of 12/2, the inaugural Youth Canned Food & Warm Coat Drive to help needy Santa Barbara families is being co-organized by several youth and community organizations in partnership with the Collaborative Communities Foundation’s Girls Empowerment Program. Donations of canned food, coats, and jackets can be made at numerous locations and will be given to families at the Casa Esperanza shelter. For more information, call Roberta Pay¡n at 897-2547.

•••

Unified Carpinterians, a South County-based Native American awareness nonprofit, received its second grant of $4,950 from the Fund for Santa Barbara at an 11/30 ceremony. The money will allow the group to continue its monthly public film series and to produce an educational video and publish a brochure detailing issues surrounding the use of stereotypical Native American images-the last of which has been a hot topic in light of a dispute over Carpinteria High’s mascot, the Warrior.

•••

The office of 1st District Supervisor Salud Carbajal announced on 12/1 that it is seeking applicants to replace Bob Bierig, who will resign from the Montecito Planning Commission after its December meeting. Those interesting in weighing in on land-use matters in Montecito should call 568-2240 for more information.