It’s a wide open state assembly race on the Central and South Coasts which features two political veterans in the region facing each other. Democrat Gregg Hart and Republican Mike Stoker are both seeking the 37th District seat.
The 37th District currently includes parts of Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties, and is represented by Steve Bennett of Ventura. But, thanks to 2020’s redistricting, Ventura County was shifted to the 38th district, where Bennett is seeking election. The new 37th District includes all of Santa Barbara County, and a small slice of Southern San Luis Obispo County.
Gregg Hart started his political career as an aide to State Assemblyman Jack O’Connell. He worked for the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, and served four terms on the Santa Barbara City Council before being elected to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors in 2018.
Mike Stoker is a lawyer who served two terms on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. After returning to the legal field, he returned to public life to serve as the head of the State Agricultural Relations Board, and later as the Southwest Regional Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency.
Listen to KCLU News Director Lance Orozco’s interview with the two candidates for the 37th District Assembly seat.
