Dear Friends,

I've been honored to represent you on the Santa Barbara City Council for five years. We've accomplished a great deal together. There is more we can do, however, to bring Santa Barbara to its full potential. This is why I'm running for Santa Barbara Mayor in the November 2009 election.

The City of Santa Barbara faces unprecedented financial challenges resulting from our nation's economic downturn. We face significant budget cuts, yet our financial decisions must keep the City aligned with our community's values. We can and must have safe neighborhoods, clean beaches and creeks, and wise community planning that preserves our distinctive culture.

These principles guide me on the City Council. As a member of the City's Finance Committee for the past three years, I've worked to present balanced budgets that prioritize such essential services as police neighborhood bike patrols, after-school programs and human services grants.

Santa Barbara's small-town feel and neighborhood character are part of what makes our city such a great place to live. I am a strong advocate of slow-managed growth policies and comprehensive responsible planning. On the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance Update Sub-Committee, I advocated strong regulations to protect the character of single-family neighborhoods. I opposed the Veronica Meadows project, as 25 large homes in the Las Positas Valley's open space would have been against both our community's best interests and the spirit of our environmental heritage. I have fought to protect City residents who rent (over 50% of our population), by opposing condo conversions and enhancing relocation assistance for displaced tenants.

I am a fierce protector of our environment. As Chair of the City's Sustainability Committee, I work with City departments to minimize costs and energy expenditures. As Mayor, I will pursue policies that increase energy sustainability in City operations and in our community as a whole.

City government cannot - and should not - seek to solve every economic or social challenge alone. However, it can - and should - be a leader that creates new partnerships among public agencies, private businesses, and non-profit organizations. Preventing youth violence, ending chronic homelessness, or easing traffic congestion require both political will and collaboration among like-minded organizations. This has been my guiding philosophy as Councilmember, and I will follow it with strength and determination as your Mayor.

The 2009 mayoral race will be competitive, which is why I am contacting you and other Santa Barbara voters early. Please help by endorsing my candidacy and donating to my campaign. Every bit will make a big difference.

As President Barack Obama said during his inaugural address, "The world has changed and we must change with it." We must not cower into complacency but instead be bold and forthright, focused on what we can achieve together. I am excited about the opportunities that await us, and I  invite you to join me.

Sincerely,

Helene Schneider

HELP HELENE

"I am excited about the opportunities that await us, and invite you to join me!"
-Helene Schneider

1. ENDORSE HELENE

Help by endorsing my candidacy. Mail your name and signature to:

PO Box 22606 Santa Barbara, CA 93121

2. CONTRIBUTE TO HELENE 

Help me by donating to my campaign. Every bit will make a big difference. Make checks payable to "Helene Schneider for Mayor"

Send checks to:

PO Box 22606 Santa Barbara, CA 93121

(*City and FPPC require contributions greater than $99 to include employer's business name)

3. VOLUNTEER

Email me at: heleneformayor@gmail.com and I'll make sure you are notified of volunteer opportunities.

4. STAY CONNECTED ONLINE

Over the coming weeks, I'll be adding a number of online resources for supporters to use.

Together, can help the campaign get off the ground right now:

FACEBOOK

Become a supporter by joining my Helene Schneider for Santa Barbara Mayor Facebook Group.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=70483616135&ref=ts

The quickest way to start growing our numbers is for you to make sure you've signed up as a supporter.

And better yet, when you become a supporter, your friends will see it in their News Feeds, so just by joining you'll be helping spread the word! 

TWITTER

You can also follow me there! My name is @HeleneforMayor and I'll be sending updates starting next week.

So make sure to visit www.twitter.com/HeleneforMayor and follow me today so you don't miss a single Tweet,

and then stay tuned for updates throughout my campaign!

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