Santa Barbara County Supervisor

3rd District

Four-year term

Name: David Smyser

Age: 53

Political party: Republican

Years in 3rd District: 11

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Elected office: Solvang City Council

Appointed offices: Solvang Planning

Commission, county Planning Commission

Work: Land-use attorney

Family: married, three children

Web site: www.smyserforsupervisor.com

By Chuck Schultz/'Senior Staff Writer

David Smyser says his experiences as a planning commissioner, mayor of Solvang, administrative aide to county Supervisor Brooks Firestone and land-use attorney make him the best choice for 3rd District supervisor of Santa Barbara County.

His critics contend he would be too pro-development, though, and his conservative views are too much like those of his former boss, Firestone.

“My record doesn't show it,” Smyser responded to the former assertion. “I don't have a development record.”

Smyser, 53, pointed out that he initiated a 4-1 vote by the county Planning Commission against considering land-use changes developers sought for the proposed 7,500-home North Hills project near Orcutt. He also voted to continue a moratorium on any rezoning for new construction in the Santa Ynez Valley until an updated community plan for that area is adopted.

With his name recognizable to many voters and contributions to his campaign exceeding $185,000, he said, Smyser is running strong in the five-person race to replace Firestone, who did not seek reelection.

The other candidates for that seat on the June 3 ballot are Dr. David Bearman, Doreen Farr, Steve Pappas and Victoria Pointer.

The sprawling district includes the Santa Ynez Valley, Los Alamos, parts of the Lompoc Valley, western Goleta and Isla Vista.

At candidate forums and in campaign ads, Smyser promises to continue what he sees as Firestone's efforts to “move away from divisive politics and build bridges” between competing interests in the diverse 3rd District. “My slogan is, ‘A leader for all of us,'” he said.

He was on the Solvang City Council for three years, one as mayor, before becoming Firestone's administrative assistant. After about two years in that post, the supervisor picked him to fill a vacancy on the county Planning Commission. Smyser was a commissioner for 14 months before resigning last summer, saying then that he wanted to spend more time in his law practice.

His challengers are critical of his bouncing from job to job, but Smyser cites his varied experience in local government as one of the main reasons voters should pick him.

His time on the Solvang council, he said, helped prepare him to deal with the county's current fiscal problems. The Board of Supervisors is considering whether to make millions of dollars in cuts next fiscal year.

“When I was mayor of Solvang, we faced a similar budget crisis,” Smyser said. Yet, “we balanced four straight budgets while expanding police and fire services.”

He said he opposes making across-the-board cuts to balance the county budget.

“Some departments have redundant services” and could be trimmed, he said, but no reductions should be made in sheriff's, fire and public-safety programs.

With property-tax revenues - the county's main source of local income - leveling off because of the downturn in the housing market, the supervisors should try to boost income from sales tax and “transient occupancy tax” collected at hotels and motels, Smyser said.

He's advocating an “Economic Vitality Plan” centered on boosting tourism and locating a hotel-conference center in the North County.

He also thinks a “point of sales” commercial park for high-tech equipment used by the space industry at Vandenberg Air Force Base may be needed somewhere in the Vandenberg Village area.

“This would be a huge retail revenue stream for the county,” he contended. “It would allow those suppliers working with Vandenberg to be in close proximity to where those products will be sold.”

A hotel-convention center, along the lines of the Bacara Spa and Resort in Goleta or the Fess Parker Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara, would benefit the North County and increase county revenues, he added.

“I think what the county needs to do is work with the two communities who have been talking about this,” Lompoc and Santa Maria, he said.

While other candidates oppose any new development on the Gaviota Coast, Smyser takes a less rigid stance. The needs of “active, working agriculture” for non-residential structures, and additional dwellings to house family members, have to be accommodated, he said.

“I think everyone wants to see open space, but when the open space is working agriculture,” he added, “you can't do things that hurt agriculture and expect the open space to remain there.”

He is backed, Smyser noted, by owners of most of the big agricultural parcels on the Gaviota coast, as well as ranchers and farmers throughout the district and the Grower-Shipper Vegetable Association

“It's the ag community who has decided (which candidate) will best represent their interests,” he contended. “They have overwhelmingly endorsed me.

Smyser and his wife, Sandra, moved to Solvang in 2007. She is working as an interim school superintendent in Steamboat Springs, Colo. They have three children.

Editor's note: Attention,

voters.

As the June 3 election approaches, we're publishing a profile of each candidate in the races for 3rd District and 4th District Santa Barbara County supervisor and for the one contested seat for the Superior Court bench in Santa Barbara County. You can also find the profiles at www.santamariatimes.com by clicking on the “Election Coverage” link.

Chuck Schultz can be reached at 925-2691, Ext. 2241, or cschultz@santamariatimes.com.

May 21, 2008