South Coast Community
Montecito Politics
Billionaire's row, mudslide recovery, and the politics of disaster spending.
Montecito is an affluent unincorporated community east of Santa Barbara, known worldwide for its celebrity residents and for the deadly 2018 debris flow that reshaped its infrastructure priorities. Its politics run through the county First District plus powerful local districts.
Disaster resilience, debris-basin and creek spending, water, and fire-insurance availability dominate the local agenda.
Governance
Unincorporated — county First District Supervisor plus the Montecito Water District, Fire Protection District, and Sanitary District.
Elections
Special-district board elections (water, fire, sanitary) plus countywide First District Supervisor representation.
Local Issues
- Debris-flow & flood resilience
- Wildfire insurance
- Water supply
- Disaster-recovery spending