Snapshot: Michael Magne
Age: 44
Occupation: Owner, Jensen Audio Visual
Background: Community volunteer for Park and Recreation Commission, Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce, SPARKLE, Santa Barbara Young Professionals; Citizens Police Academy Graduate

LD: Why do you want to be on the City Council?

MM: One of the main reasons why I’m running is the financial crisis that we’re facing. The city itself has done a great job. I’ve had the fortune over the last year to attend all of the council hearings and budget hearings over the 2004 budget. The city is doing very good financially because of previous councils that have set up really prudent policies. And one of them is to make sure that we don’t spend one-time monies on ongoing expenses. It sounds simple, that people would say yes this makes sense, but that’s one of the problems that they didn’t get. Some people can view it as well, we got this money, let’s go ahead and spend it on this. Where’s it coming from?

LD: What issues would be your priorities if elected?

MM: Youth in the community has always been a priority and that’s one of my big involvements with the Parks and Recreation commission. I think it’s really important that kids get taken care of. Especially in these economic times when schools are making budget cuts, more and more pressure’s going to come upon the city to help.

… If you don’t give kids something to do, they’re going to do something. To me it makes more sense to give them more positive alternatives.

The third issue is the environment. I’m very much concerned about the environment with creeks advisory committee being under the parks and recreation and watching what they do with their budget and how spending is going.

LD: What do you appreciate most about Santa Barbara?

MM: I really have to say the people … when I was 25 I moved to Santa Barbara, and when I moved here it really became my home. And a lot of it had to do with the people. They’re very warm and welcoming.

This community gives back so much. You figure there are all the nonprofits in this community, how generous they are. … Even though Santa Barbara is big and growing it still has a lot of small town character to it. The city’s done a really good job of managing it. Of being able to continue to prosper and yet maintain its charm. And you know there are always people that are going to be complaining and (say) ‘I remember back when’ … but I think it’s awesome.

LD: What would you most like to see change about Santa Barbara?

MM: That it not change. I don’t want to change it.

LD: How would you describe your political views?

MM: Very moderate. I think before you can do anything socially you need to have a sound financial background and funding. I think it’s extremely important that financially that we’re very prudent with our funding.

LD: How would you attack the problem of the jobs/housing balance?

MM: The city’s done an amazing job of helping to provide affordable housing. The city controls four percent of the housing units, which are affordable. If you look back through the history of Santa Barbara, there’s always been a housing crisis. And I truly believe it’s always going to be. It’s a regional issue that the city will never be able to undo the problem. It can help, but it has to have the cooperation of the county, the cities of Carpinteria and Goleta.

It really needs to be a regional approach that we sit down together and work out how we can come to jobs/housing balance. There’s going to be a lot of give and take on many different issues, and so as a community we need to come to those balances. Whether it’s going to be traffic on the freeway or increased density or other forms of mass transportation.

LD: Do you feel like the different jurisdictions can work together effectively on this issue?

MM: They haven’t. Currently from what I’ve seen, the city of Goleta and Santa Barbara don’t even talk to each other. The city of Goleta is suing Santa Barbara over the airport because they don’t want these safety improvements to be done to the runway when it’s a regional airport. … It’s sad when a city’s going to court with another city over a safety issue. That to me is a complete waste of both cities’ tax dollars and a very poor use of our legal system.

LD: Would you try, if you were on the council, to reach out to Goleta?

MM: Oh, absolutely. I have even attended many of the Goleta City Council meetings. I think it’s important that there is a dialogue between them. To just sit down and say we need to sit down and work on these regional issues. Guess what. We’re not going to agree about everything. I don’t agree with my wife about everything but we work through it.

The issues don’t stop at the city or county lines. The issue of water quality doesn’t stop at the county boundary or the city boundary. Traffic doesn’t matter if you’re in the county or in the city; traffic is traffic. The jobs/housing imbalance, it’s all one. The city of Santa Barbara is in a bind because we’re landlocked, we don’t have much space, we have those types of geographical limitations.

LD: What about neighborhood compatibility? Appeals of planning commission decisions?

MM: There have been problems with neighborhood compatibilities. The city is working on the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance, to help solidify it and make it streamlined and more understanding. …I think the process has worked fairly well, but there are some examples where it has to be adjusted. You drive through different neighborhoods, and go “this doesn’t fit.” But then you have Bungalow Haven, it’s great. The passion that those folks have for their area is just great. It really is a great sense of community over there.

LD: Which current or former city council member do you admire the most?

MM: Current, Rusty Fairly. What he has done for our community has just been astounding. Here’s a man who was a teacher and a coach and he still brings that to the council. He’s been a great teacher and supporter and I still sit down and talk with him quite frequently. It’s really been rewarding to have his support.

Ex-mayor Hal Conklin. He’s been a good friend. I felt the city lost a great mayor when he was ruled ineligible to continue because of the laws with the term limits. I was very supportive of him. I thought he was a great mayor … he’s been a great supporter of our community, he’s done a tremendous amount with the arts, and he’s been a good friend and advisor over the years.