Why I'm Running for Mayor

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I never planned to run for public office.

After spending more than 50 years living, working, volunteering, and serving Santa Barbara, I believed my greatest contribution would continue through community service. But over the past several years, I have watched our city make decisions that are changing the character of Santa Barbara in ways that concern me.

Residents increasingly feel disconnected from City Hall. Too many major decisions affecting every neighborhood are driven by political agendas, special interests, or mandates from Sacramento instead of the people who live, work, and invest in our community.

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I Believe Santa Barbara Deserves Better

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I'm running for Mayor as an independent, nonpartisan candidate because our city deserves leadership that puts people before politics. I am not running to represent a political party or special interests. I am running to represent every resident of Santa Barbara.

As Mayor, I will ask tough questions, insist on facts before ideology, and make decisions based on data, fiscal responsibility, and long-term planning.

We can protect our neighborhoods while planning responsibly for the future. We can support local businesses while preserving the character of our downtown. We can improve public safety, maintain our infrastructure, strengthen city finances, and restore confidence in City Hall.

I believe government should be transparent, accountable, financially responsible, and always focused on improving the quality of life for the people it serves.

That is why I am running.

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A Lifelong Santa Barbara Resident

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Santa Barbara has been my home for more than 50 years.

This community has given me extraordinary opportunities to build a career, raise lasting friendships, volunteer throughout the city, and serve thousands of local residents. From the Historic Courthouse and Old Mission to our neighborhoods, parks, waterfront, and downtown, I understand what makes Santa Barbara one of America's most remarkable cities.

I'm not running because I'm a career politician.

I'm running because I believe my lifetime of experience in public service, business, nonprofit leadership, healthcare, education, and technology can help guide Santa Barbara through the challenges ahead while preserving everything that makes this city unique.

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Experience You Can Trust

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For more than three decades, I served the Santa Barbara Unified School District as a technology administrator, managing many of the district's most critical operational systems, including payroll, personnel, financial reporting, student health, and student information systems. My responsibility was to ensure these essential services operated accurately, efficiently, and transparently for one of Santa Barbara's largest public organizations.

I also represented Santa Barbara Unified School District in the California Educational Computer Consortium, a Joint Powers Authority that develops and provides business, payroll, personnel, financial, and student information systems for California public education. The consortium served 194 county offices of education and school districts, representing approximately 851,631 Average Daily Attendance. Working alongside educational leaders across California provided valuable experience in governance, technology planning, fiscal accountability, and collaborative problem solving.

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My career taught me what effective government requires:

• Transparency

• Accountability

• Fiscal responsibility

• Efficient management

• Long-term planning

• Systems that serve people—not bureaucracy

Those are the same principles I will bring to City Hall.

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A Lifetime of Community Leadership

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Education Leader

For over 32 years, I helped modernize technology and improve public services for Santa Barbara Unified School District, ensuring students, teachers, administrators, and families had reliable systems that supported education throughout our community.

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Community Volunteer

I have proudly served as a docent at the Santa Barbara Courthouse, Old Mission Santa Barbara, and Casa del Herrero because preserving Santa Barbara's history and cultural heritage is one of the greatest responsibilities we share.

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Nonprofit Founder

As Founder and Executive Director of Seaside Wellness Gardens, a Santa Barbara 501(c)(3) nonprofit, I have worked to improve the lives of individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, PTSD, Alzheimer's disease, veterans, and others with special needs. Through fundraising, community partnerships, and innovative therapeutic programs, we continue creating opportunities that make a meaningful difference.

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Independent Business Owner

I owned and operated Video Visions on the Mesa and Video Visions Montecito located in what is now Montecito Country Mart. As a small business owner, I experienced firsthand both the opportunities and the challenges facing local businesses: from government regulations and rising operating costs to changing consumer markets. Those experiences continue to shape my commitment to fostering a business climate where local businesses can succeed and our commercial districts remain vibrant.

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Healthcare Technology Consultant and Employment

I provided contract Information Technology services for Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, assisting with the implementation, operation, and ongoing support of patient video and internet systems. Working in a healthcare environment reinforced the importance of reliability, accountability, teamwork, and responsive public service. Before my career with Santa Barbara Unified School District, I worked in pharmacies in Los Angeles and later served as a Clinical Laboratory Supervisor at Kaiser Permanente in Berkeley, California. I was responsible for managing and coordinating the work of more than 200 employees, including technology specialists and licensed clinical professionals.

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Real Estate Professional

As a licensed California and Florida Realtor, I understand the pressures facing homeowners, renters, property owners, and first-time buyers. I believe Santa Barbara must pursue housing policies that respect neighborhood character while prioritizing the needs of the people who already live and work here.

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Santa Barbara Is at a Crossroads

The decisions we make over the next several years will determine what kind of city Santa Barbara becomes for generations.

Our city faces growing fiscal pressures, infrastructure needs, housing challenges, public safety concerns, and increasing mandates from Sacramento. Meeting those challenges requires thoughtful leadership, not political slogans.

I believe we can preserve Santa Barbara's character while embracing responsible progress.

We can strengthen public safety.

We can support local businesses.

We can manage taxpayer dollars responsibly.

We can make government more transparent and accountable.

We can make decisions based on facts, community input, and long-term consequences rather than short-term politics.

Most importantly, we can restore confidence that City Hall works for the people, not the other way around.

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My Commitment

If elected Mayor, I will work every day to:

• Protect Santa Barbara's unique character.

• Restore transparency and accountability in City Hall.

• Strengthen fiscal responsibility.

• Support public safety.

• Foster a thriving local economy.

• Encourage responsible planning and infrastructure investment.

• Listen respectfully to every neighborhood and every resident.

• Make decisions based on facts, data, and what's best for Santa Barbara's future.

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Let's Keep Santa Barbara... Santa Barbara

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This campaign isn't about politics. It's about preserving the city we love while preparing responsibly for the future. Together, we can ensure Santa Barbara remains the extraordinary community that generations before us built and future generations will be proud to call home. - Nick Sebastian

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I would be honored to earn your vote and serve as your next Mayor.Nick Sebastian

Candidate for Mayor of Santa Barbara