Supervisor Das Williams has served Santa Barbara area since 2003. I had a new baby and remember going to listen to a City Council candidate debate that year in Santa Barbara. I didn't know any of the candidates, listened to everyone and after the debate made a point to introduce myself to Das. I remember he was both easy going and well spoken, passionate about being of service and caring for schools, human rights, the environment, and public safety. I was a new mom launching Santa Barbara's first organic produce delivery in town at the time, and offered to volunteer on his campaign and maybe introduce him to some great local farmers.
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Getting to see cool community leaders like Mindy and Das at local running event for healthcare nonprofit.[/caption]
Das ended up serving 7 years on the Santa Barbara City Council from 2003 - 2010. As my daughter learned to walk, she helped with campaign duties like holding flyers for doorbelling and passing out snacks at phone banks. I have a photo of my young daughter with a Das Williams T shirt at a park as we all got together with other volunteers to get out the vote. I got to meet his amazing wife and volunteer with great folks early in the morning before sunrise, like Lynne and Kalia, Darcel, Greg, Spencer and Geneva. At every election I went to the polls with my daughter so she would learn the importance of voting and get that "I Voted" sticker to wear with pride. I always said - It doesn't matter if you vote different than me, your vote is your choice, but you MUST VOTE.
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Election Day Sticker on the way to school drop off![/caption]
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Our kind of dawn patrol[/caption]
Das then ran for the California State Assembly, and he won, representing our area, with over half of Santa Barbara County and a quarter of Ventura County from 2010-2016. We volunteered. We got to see him become a dad with daughters. We got to hang out with his amazing campaign staff and other volunteers. It was something small in the big picture of our lives, but we were always in support and available to help when asked.
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GOTV![/caption]
Das has continuously been endorsed by diverse organizations like Planned Parenthood, the Sierra Club, and local Firefighters. We were happy to put his yard sign in our yard, doorbell, and phone bank. I especially liked to talk with neighbors and get out the vote in my Westside neighborhood. If someone had a special question or request, I'd make a note of it and Das would reach out to follow-up.
We volunteered when Das ran for and was elected to represent the First District of Santa Barbara County in 2016. He took office in 2017. My daughter was starting High School. One year later, we had tragic wildfires and the debris flow of Jan. 9, 2018 that killed 23 people and damaged 500 structures in Montecito. This was a horrible day that devastated our friends and community. I was working full time in technology at the time raising my daughter, and remember Das working with local firefighters, health and public safety to rebuild. He and my daughter helped educate me on the benefits of creating debris basons to prevent future tragedies.
This year I again knocked on Westside doors and made phone calls. I'm a successful Realtor, Rotarian and runner, and met last year with Das to talk about about both youth running programs and affordable housing. Das is always out and about in our community and available to meet with constituents.
As a former campaign manger back in my 20s, I know how important it is to help to make calls, build yard signs, and get out the vote. It's been a privilege to be a volunteer going on 20 years. This election day, March 2024, the vote was too close to call the evening of the election and it took a little extra time to count the votes that were sent in or dropped off the last day of election (like me). Now it has been called, and Das lost the election by 500 votes. It was not rigged, and he is not contesting it. He is not overthrowing the vote. He is not saying he is still the winner. He is being Das, communicating with his volunteers and constituents about what comes next. And getting back to work.
Thank you, Das.
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Thank YOU, Darcel.[/caption]
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Covid birthday with yard sign spotted[/caption]
Das has reminded me, typing this up, about myself trying to be a role model, service getting out the vote, and hope for our next generation.
I'm happy for our new elected Supervisor Roy Lee and look forward to meeting him as a constituent. And I continue to support Das in his next new adventure. I've had a few new ones myself.
Das, with your family at the center, you will do great things. You've got this.
3/14/24 "Most of the remaining votes were counted yesterday morning and my re-election has fallen short by about 500 votes.
This community is made up of passionate, engaged people who care about the issues. I have been blessed to work on behalf of so many of them. It has been an honor to serve this community for now over 21 years, and I thank you for voting for me at least 9 times and giving me the chance I yearned for all my life: to make a difference for our shared future.
We continue to have many challenges as a community, foremost amongst them housing affordability, environmental protection, and flood control. I hope to support any effort my successor makes on these vital needs.
I want to thank all the walkers, phoners, donors, and supporters who worked on this campaign and in previous campaigns. This goes double for Spencer, Geneva, Leilanie, and Darcel. It truly has been an honor.
Do not worry about me, I am going to be concentrating on supporting my wife’s career and raising two strong, thoughtful, and compassionate girls. But please do worry about climate change, and do everything in your power to reduce your emissions and this community’s. Our future does hang in the balance."
From Das Williams, First District Supervisor
Then, he sent out an email about addressing the housing crisis.
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BIG day, first time rocking the vote.[/caption]
PS for our next generation of voters - this is a critical election year. In 2014 only 39% of eligible voters age 18-53 actually voted. This is your right that has been hard fought. Your vote does matter. Please, vote. March for progress, after you VOTE. And if you don't have a lot of treasure to donate, you can still donate your time and talent. You can make a difference, change lives, and make friends, too.
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VOTE people[/caption]
