A highly contest race to to become Santa Barbara's next mayor is over, with Santa Barbara City Council member Eric Friedman conceding to fellow council member Kristen Sneddon.
The action came after a vote count update Thursday which showed Sneddon with a 579 vote lead over Friedman.
He posted a statement on his campaign's Facebook page.
Here is what Friedman wrote: "This was a close election, and it showed how deeply Santa Barbarans care about the future of our city. The voter have made their choice, and it is important that we come together as a community to build our future together because Santa Barbara works best when every voice has a seat at the table. I wish Kristen Sneddon and the new Councilmembers well as they work on the issues important to all of us."
