A.S. senator runs for IVRPD Board of Directors in midterm election

Endorsed by the Democratic Party, second-year physics major and Associated Students Senator Alec GeoSimonian is running for a seat on the Isla Vista Recreation & Park District Board of Directors in the Nov. 3 election.

GeoSimonian’s campaign proposes creating emergency communication towers in parks within I.V. — adding additional lighting and emergency call buttons. The towers would allow residents to contact emergency services without needing access to a cellphone. 

GeoSimonian is one of three candidates running for the two open seats on the Isla Vista Recreation & Park District Board of Directors (IVRPD). The other two candidates are Demi Cain and Jeff Everhard. Board members serve four-year terms and oversee park policy, community priorities and finances. 

IVRPD is the governing body responsible for managing the parks and recreational spaces throughout I.V. GeoSimonian said that the IVRPD has done well at fulfilling those responsibilities, but its control over public land could address issues beyond recreation. 

A central part of GeoSimonian’s campaign is bolstering IVRPD’s active role in addressing public safety concerns and expanding I.V.’s political autonomy.  

“I think the board’s philosophy should move from doing what we’re required to do, to doing what we’re empowered to do,” GeoSimonian said. 

Unlike the Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD), he argues that IVRPD is capable of undertaking infrastructure projects without additional approval from the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors; however, they would still need to follow building regulations. 

GeoSimonian identified Pardall Gardens and Greek Park as possible locations for the emergency communication towers with an estimated cost of $25,000 to $30,000 for each installation. He theorized that funding could come from IVRPD’s budget or a potential partnership with IVCSD. 

If elected, GeoSimonian said he would ask the district staff to assess the project and hopes to secure approval for the construction of at least one tower by the end of his first year in office. 

The towers could also potentially include security cameras. To address privacy concerns, GeoSimonian said he would prefer the cameras to begin recording once the emergency call button has been pushed. He also plans to restrict access to the security footage to IVRPD and local law enforcement, protecting it from being shared with outside agencies, unless legally required. 

Beyond emergency infrastructure, GeoSimonian is advocating for the renewal of Measure O, a special tax that provides funding for IVRPD. He supports increasing the tax rate to provide the district with additional revenue for park renovations and other community projects. 

“I think there’s a general consensus in Isla Vista that we want to be more autonomous,” GeoSimonian said. “The ways in which we gather revenue should be more stable and more autonomous as well.” 

If GeoSimonian were to win a seat, he hopes that IVRPD will formally endorse I.V. cityhood. He argued that cooperation between IVRPD, IVCSD and UC Santa Barbara would strengthen I.V.’s local governance while the community continues pursuing incorporation. 

Another campaign priority for GeoSimonian, which he believes would be feasible in his first year in office, is partnering IVRPD with the Associated Students (A.S.) Future Leaders in Government Fellowship. The fellowship provides students access to opportunities in local government. 

“I think IVRPD is a perfect candidate to partner with them,” GeoSimonian said. “A.S. has already partnered with the [Santa Barbara] County Board of Supervisors, with Congressman [Salud] Carbajal … I think having access to collaboration with a local body as well makes it accessible to people who don’t want to go all out.”

Having spent one year as an A.S. senator, GeoSimonian believes his experiences have taught him the importance of working with colleagues who disagree with him. 

“The way I want to handle my board tenure, and the way I think I handle a lot of my responsibilities in the Senate now, is being more committed to fighting the problem than any particular solution,” GeoSimonian said.

If elected, GeoSimonian would serve a four-year term while continuing his responsibilities as a senator and full-time student. However, he acknowledged that he has not decided whether he will remain in I.V. after his graduation in June 2029. 

GeoSimonian explained that he is considering attending law school and could take a gap year to continue serving on the board. He highlighted that it is not “unheard of” for politicians in I.V. to resign before the end of their term. 

“I don’t know if I’m going to be here past June of 2029,” GeoSimonian said. “So I want to get the most I can do right now, and I think that even if I do end up sticking around, that is an incredibly good philosophy to live by.”