Letter: How political reporting can shape the candidate

Note: This letter is in response to the story “In a Santa Barbara City Council battle for downtown, experience collides with new ideas,” published Sept. 22. Read it here.

I am Anabella Lehne. I was born and raised in Santa Barbara, I am the bilingual daughter of Mexican immigrants, and I am running to represent District 6 on the Santa Barbara City Council.

I believe public officials should be prepared, specific and accountable. When I consider an issue, I look closely at the details, the cost and the expected results. That does not make me cold or robotic. It means I take the responsibility of public office seriously.

That is why I was troubled by the way I was portrayed in a recent Santa Barbara News-Press article about the District 6 candidate forum.

The article introduced Gabe Escobedo through his government experience and love for Santa Barbara. Jason Carlton was presented through his knowledge of construction and infrastructure. Alexander Stoeber was described as someone who “drips with charisma” and offers hope and optimism.

I was introduced through an incorrect job title and described as offering a “more technical answer.”

That choice of language matters.

My response concerning immigration came from my personal experience as the daughter of immigrants and from years of helping families. I spoke about connecting people with legitimate legal assistance, community organizations and resources that already exist. Providing practical information is not a lack of compassion. It is compassion put into action.

Emotion and substance are not opposites. A woman who explains how she would help people should not be made to appear robotic simply because she offers specific solutions.

The article also said that I “took a jab” at Escobedo and Stoeber when I identified their political-party endorsements. Santa Barbara City Council is a nonpartisan office, but party endorsements remain relevant information. I openly stated that I am a Democrat. I also identified Escobedo’s Democratic Party endorsement and Stoeber’s Republican Party endorsement because voters should have complete information.

Stoeber describes himself on his campaign website and materials as an “independent local candidate.” His website also describes his coalition as nonpartisan. However, his campaign website and endorsement page do not currently disclose his formal endorsement by the Santa Barbara County Republican Party.

Political registration, campaign identity and organizational endorsements are separate facts. Calling my statement a “jab” framed a documented transparency issue as a personal attack. I did not raise it to tell anyone how to vote. I raised it so voters could evaluate every candidate with the same information.

Beyond the framing, the article initially contained two inaccuracies.

First, it called me an escrow officer. I have never claimed to be an escrow officer. I worked in escrow, was trained as an escrow assistant, and now work as a loan signing agent handling escrow documents. Those roles are not interchangeable.

Second, the article said that I entered the contest later than the other candidates. That is inaccurate. I announced my candidacy before Stoeber announced his.

(Publisher’s note: The original article has been updated to identify Lehne as a loan signing agent and to remove the statement that she entered the race later than the other candidates.)

Journalists have every right to scrutinize candidates. They should examine our records, challenge our proposals and question our conclusions. But that scrutiny should be grounded in accuracy, context and consistent standards.

Political reporting does more than repeat what candidates say. Descriptive choices can make one candidate appear warm and inspiring while making another appear calculated or detached. Those choices can shape how readers see candidates before they have evaluated their actual ideas.

Challenge my proposals. Examine my experience. Quote me accurately. Describe my professional background and candidacy timeline correctly. Give readers the relevant facts and allow them to reach their own conclusions.

I am not asking for favorable coverage. I am asking for accurate and fair coverage.

Words matter, especially during an election. When reporting moves beyond the facts and begins shaping the candidate, readers deserve to recognize the difference.

Anabella Lehne is a candidate for Santa Barbara City Council District 6.

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