Cevin Cathell
Candidate for City Council Member, Santa Barbara, District 5 · Film Producer/Businesswoman
Cevin Cathell worked for decades in film production, managing budgets and complex projects, and earlier sang, opening for acts including Steel Pulse and U2, before moving into production work. She came to Santa Barbara in 2000 and has volunteered for a quarter-century with groups including the Santa Barbara Women's Club, the Music Academy of the West, and the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Positions in brief
She has said she was prompted to run by frustration with polarization on the current council over decisions like rent control, State Street, and the city budget.
In interviews, Cathell has expressed concern about rent stabilization and said she thinks the city could experiment with reintroducing limited traffic to portions of State Street, framing her campaign around reducing council polarization.
On the issues
- Housing & Homelessness
Opposes the proposed rent stabilization ordinance's 60-percent-of-CPI cap on rent increases, arguing it will discourage construction of new rental housing.
“We need more affordable housing, and I'm not sure that this one-pronged approach is going to get us there.”
Source → - Economy & Jobs
Supports experimenting with reopening a portion of upper State Street to vehicle traffic to help struggling businesses.
“Open it up with the option of closing it.”
Source → - Taxes & Cost of Living
Says the city is already heavily taxed, opposes a vacancy tax, but is open to raising the hotel (transient occupancy) tax.
“But we are very heavily taxed here...it's very expensive.”
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Says the council's frequent 4-3 votes on major issues create unnecessary polarization and wants to serve as an independent voice.
“The polarization is not good for the city.”
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.