Das Williams
Member of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors from the 1st District
Assumed office
January 2, 2017
Preceded bySalud Carbajal
Succeeded byRoy Lee (elect)
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 37th district
35th district (2010–2012)
In office
December 6, 2010 – November 30, 2016
Preceded byPedro Nava
Succeeded byMonique Limón
Santa Barbara City Councilmember
In office
December 4, 2002 – December 6, 2010
Personal details
Born
Dohassen Gault-Williams

(1974-06-29) June 29, 1974 (age 49)
Soldotna, Alaska, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJonnie Erika Williams
Children1
Residence(s)Carpinteria, California
Alma materUniversity of California, Santa Barbara
ProfessionCommunity organizer

Dohassen Gault-Williams (born June 29, 1974), better known as Das Williams, is an American politician who currently serves as County Supervisor on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. He represents the First District, which encompasses Carpinteria, most of Santa Barbara, and parts of the Los Padres National Forest. In 2024, Williams was defeated for re-election in a bid for his third term by Carpinteria City Councilman Roy Lee by a 49%-51% margin.[1]

He formerly served in the California State Assembly, representing the 37th district, encompassing parts of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Prior to being elected to the state assembly, he was a member of the Santa Barbara City Council. He is a Democrat.[2]

Background

Das led the effort to pass a new gun control measure after the 2014 Isla Vista shootings, similar policies have since been adopted nationwide.[3] After the Thomas Fire and Montecito Debris flow Das was instrumental in passing ordinances that allowed homeowners to rebuild their lost property quickly.[4]

Before embarking in politics, Williams worked as a junior high school teacher and a legislative aide to then-assemblymember Hannah-Beth Jackson.

Williams holds a master's degree in Environmental Science & Management, with a focus on water pollution, planning processes, and land-use law from the University of California, Santa Barbara's Bren School of Environmental Science & Management in 2005.[5] As a UC grad, Williams has opposed fee increases for the UC system.[6]

2014 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2014
California's 37th State Assembly district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Das Williams (incumbent) 43,124 57.3
Republican Ron DeBlauw 32,110 42.7
Total votes 75,234 100.0
General election
Democratic Das Williams (incumbent) 75,452 58.6
Republican Ron DeBlauw 53,414 41.4
Total votes 128,866 100.0
Democratic hold

References

  1. ^ "Statement of Votes Cast Election Summary Report – Santa Barbara County Elections – March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election – Certified Results". County of Santa Barbara. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  2. ^ "Santa Barbara City Council Candidate Profiles". www.newspress.com. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  3. ^ "Firearms Checks Sought after Isla Vista Shootings". June 11, 2014.
  4. ^ "Board Approves Like for Like Building code update".
  5. ^ "Das Williams First District Supervisor". countyofsb.org. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  6. ^ "Assemblyman Williams Issues Statement on Proposed UC Fee Increase". Noozhawk. November 19, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2016.

External links

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