Ian Baucke Runs for Santa Barbara District 5 Council
The city transportation committee chair enters the race for the District 5 seat on the Santa Barbara City Council.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in City Hall
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Ian Baucke is running for a seat on the Santa Barbara City Council in District 5. He is campaigning against fellow candidates James Zurlinden and Cevin Cathell.
Why it matters
Baucke aims to prioritize housing affordability to help preserve the city's diversity. His platform focuses on supporting mixed-use developments and the State Street Master Plan.
Baucke reports a fundraising advantage of $16,781 over James Zurlinden and $9,266 over Cevin Cathell. He also lists 43 community leader endorsements and 18 organizational endorsements.
The players
Ian Baucke
A 27-year-old legislative aide who serves as chair of the city's Transportation and Circulation Committee.
Monique Limon
The state Senate President pro Tempore who employs Baucke as an aide.
James Zurlinden
A candidate running for the District 5 City Council seat.
Cevin Cathell
A candidate running for the District 5 City Council seat.
The details
As the current chair of the city's Transportation and Circulation Committee, Baucke promotes a pedestrian-centered downtown area. He advocates for larger housing developments within mixed-use corridors to address local affordability.
Timeline
Ian Baucke began working as an aide for state Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limon in 2024.
Political Context
Opponents may argue that Baucke’s support for increased density could negatively impact neighborhood character. Critics often push back against centralized planning efforts like the State Street Master Plan in favor of maintaining existing zoning protections.
Residents in District 5 will face a choice between competing visions for housing density and downtown pedestrian access. These policy differences directly impact the city's future development standards and potential housing availability.
The takeaway
Voters should review each candidate's specific stance on high-density housing projects to understand potential impacts on their neighborhoods. Assessing financial support and organizational endorsements provides insight into the priorities of each campaign.
Further reading
Learn more about local governance issues on the City Hall section page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Santa Barbara News-Press.
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