Honor in Courage

by Christy Lozano

Like the lion in the Wizard of Oz, most (I would say all, but I don’t like statements that encompass totality) people in leadership positions in Santa Barbara County lack courage. Most – it seems – suffer from cowardice, a word the Oxford English Dictionary defines as “lack of courage to face danger: shameful fear.”

As an Air Force veteran, I took an oath to protect and serve. That oath does not allow for cowardice; it stands in the face of it. It is difficult to “protect and serve,” and that’s why we are required to take an oath. Elected officials also take that oath.

Putative Republicans Endorsing Diehard Democrats

Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse, for example, was supported in his election by the Republican Central Committee (SBGOP) in his run for mayor. He asked the committee to not only give him their endorsement but also to not run anyone against him. The SBGOP agreed and Randy won his election for Santa Barbara Mayor. It was SBGOP’s obligation to ask Randy for something in exchange for not running anyone to the right of him. Instead, Randy Rowse endorsed Susan Salcido – a Democrat – in the 2022 election for Superintendent of Schools.

Why?

Why would Randy reach across party lines to do that? Did he bother to examine the issues before he gave his endorsement to Mrs. Salcido? After all, she’s the woman who has overseen the horrendous “proficiency” scores of Santa Barbara students. More than 50% of the 70,000 students in the District do not read proficiently, and two-thirds are deficient in math. Why does such a pathetic record of “leadership” deserve support from a prospective mayor?

Mrs. Salcido is also responsible for harboring administrators such as Shawn Carey and Elise Simmons, both of whom resigned from Santa Barbara Unified School District after $1 million and $25 million were awarded in two different sexual abuse settlements in 2022.

The jury found that “the school district was liable for 80% of the damages suffered.” The plaintiffs’ attorneys maintained that “They (the school district) repeatedly chose to protect the employee over the safety of the kids.” I would not suggest that Randy Rowse exhibited “courage” by giving his endorsement to Susan Salcido, the District Superintendent in charge of this failure to “protect and serve.”

Honor in the Face of Adversity

Another example of cowardice – certainly lack of any semblance of “courage” – would be the February 2021 votes of both North County Supervisors – Bob Nelson and Steve Lavagnino – to award a funding contract to a group calling itself Healing Justice Santa Barbara, which is simply an extension of DEI and Black Lives Matter. How does this vote support the County Supervisors’ mission to “provide quality public services to the people of Santa Barbara County in response to their need for a healthy, safe, and prosperous environment; and to establish and maintain a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community?”

During that meeting, Simone Akila Ruskamp, co-founder of Healing Justice Santa Barbara, arrogantly called in to berate the supervisors shortly after approval. Why? Well, maybe because just six months later the group demanded… er, requested… another $500,000, of which $250,000 was granted. I would not suggest that Mr. Nelson or Mr. Lavagnino exhibited courage by giving money – taxpayer money: your money and my money – to such organizations.

A person of courage sacrifices something of personal value when acting as a leader. Most of the current SB leadership sacrifice things that belong to the citizens of Santa Barbara, not things of personal value at all.  

Standing Up for the Flag

When discussing courage, one must think about certain individuals who possess and have willingly displayed that courage. Celeste Barber, for example, is one brave woman. When the Santa Barbara City College Board decided that the Pledge of Allegiance was no longer necessary at their board meetings, Celeste, who is married to a military veteran, determined that the board was wrong and insisted on reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in the face of angry board members and in front of the public.

That took courage.

Let’s not forget that when Eric Freidman endorsed his mother, Celeste Barber, the Democrat Central Committee refused to endorse him for city council. They had him come back for a second interview; they were going to show him. 

Others who’ve shown courage are Brian Campbell, Justin Shores, Greg Hammel, and Caroline Abate. They have run multiple campaigns, launched effective and innovative organizations, showed up faithfully at school board meetings to endlessly speak truth for the protection of children. Fair Education and the leadership behind that organization (Sheridan Rosenberg, Greg Gandrud, and James Fenkner) took on the Goliath of Santa Barbara Unified’s twisted policies and abuse of people and, while they knew it was a long shot to win in a court of law, they took that risk and faced the giant because it was the right thing to do.

Fair Education did not win in court, but many times that may not be the point. The point is to stand up and push back and where they did win was in the court of public opinion, because they will go down in history as having filed the very first Critical Race Theory lawsuit in the nation. If we follow history, it is rarely the first time somebody does something that gets them over the finish line. Because of the courageous individuals I have listed, we and they are closer than ever to a worthy goal.

To elect courageous leaders, the citizens of Santa Barbara must value their candidates, stand up for them, support them, vote for them, and encourage others to do the same. These are positive actions, not talk.

We need to be done with talking.

It’s time to act.

So, let’s get moving!