Santa Barbara Democrats Endorse Slattery for Auditor-Controller

County party cites Slattery's experience, commitment to transparency and Democratic values.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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The Santa Barbara County Democratic Party has endorsed Kyle Slattery for County Auditor-Controller, citing his extensive public finance experience, focus on transparency and accountability, and alignment with Democratic principles of equity and effective government.

Why it matters

The Auditor-Controller plays a crucial role in overseeing the county's finances and ensuring responsible use of public resources. The Democratic Party's endorsement signals their confidence in Slattery's ability to modernize financial systems, safeguard against waste and fraud, and make county data accessible to residents and decision-makers.

The details

Slattery, a lifelong Santa Barbara County resident and Certified Public Accountant, has spent his career in county government, serving as an intern, Chief Deputy Controller, and Deputy Chief Information Officer. In the latter role, he helped lead efforts to upgrade the county's financial systems. Party leaders cited Slattery's experience, judgment, and commitment to equity, inclusion, and accountability as key factors in their endorsement decision.

  • The Santa Barbara County Democratic Party voted to endorse Slattery last night.

The players

Kyle Slattery

A lifelong Santa Barbara County resident and Certified Public Accountant who has spent his career in county government, most recently as Deputy Chief Information Officer.

Christian Alonso

Chair of the Santa Barbara County Democratic Party.

Santa Barbara County Democratic Party

The local Democratic Party organization in Santa Barbara County, California.

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What they’re saying

“The next few years will require careful planning and tough choices. Kyle has the experience and judgment to help the County navigate budget constraints while protecting workers, maintaining services people rely on, and keeping the public informed.”

— Christian Alonso, Chair, Santa Barbara County Democratic Party (independent.com)

What’s next

Slattery will now run in the upcoming election for Santa Barbara County Auditor-Controller.

The takeaway

The Democratic Party's endorsement of Slattery highlights the importance of experienced, transparent, and accountable leadership in local government, particularly as counties navigate challenging budget environments and the need to modernize financial systems.