Eric Friedman
Candidate for Mayor, Santa Barbara · Councilmember/Grocery Worker
Eric Friedman is a Santa Barbara city councilmember who works at Trader Joe's and describes himself as a pragmatic moderate. He survived a heart attack in April 2025. His mayoral campaign has been backed by business owners and workers' unions, and as of early August 2026 he had raised roughly $137,000, giving him a fundraising edge over his closest rival.
Positions in brief
He has emphasized expanding the housing supply, investing in emergency preparedness and wildfire mitigation, transparent budgeting, and revitalizing State Street as a civic and economic center.
On his campaign site, Friedman lists housing supply expansion and streamlined development, emergency preparedness and wildfire mitigation, transparent budgeting, State Street and downtown revitalization, and science-based environmental protection as his core priorities.
On the issues
- Housing & Homelessness
Supports expanding the housing supply, increasing affordable options, and streamlining development approvals.
“expanding housing supply, increasing affordable options, and streamlining development processes”
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Prioritizes investing in infrastructure for emergency preparedness and supporting wildfire mitigation, including insurance affordability.
“emergency preparedness and public safety by investing in infrastructure, supporting wildfire mitigation efforts”
Source → - Taxes & Cost of Living
Supports transparent budgeting and careful stewardship of public funds.
“transparent budgeting, careful stewardship of public funds, and collaborative solutions”
Source → - Economy & Jobs
Wants to revitalize State Street and downtown as a center of civic, economic, and cultural activity while preserving historic character.
“a robust center of civic, economic and cultural vitality”
Source → - Environment, Energy & Climate
Supports science-based climate and coastal protection efforts to strengthen community resilience.
“practical, science-based solutions that protect our community, strengthen resilience”
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.