From Santa Barbara to the White House and back, Devon Wardlow now sets eyes on the City Council

By the time Devon Wardlow was 12, she had already learned to take care of herself. Her mother was ill, her family moved often, and much of her childhood was spent navigating circumstances that gave her no other choice but to grow up quickly. Eventually, Wardlow decided she was in need of a whole new environment. She moved to Santa Barbara, where her godfather lived, and began building a life in a community she credits with changing its trajectory. For the first time, she found stability—through her friends, their families, and the support of local educators. “I genuinely believe that if I had not moved to Santa Barbara, my life would have turned out very, very differently,” Wardlow said. Years later, after working in the Obama Administration, advising businesses on public policy and serving on Santa Barbara s Planning Commission, Wardlow is seeking a seat on the Santa Barbara City Council. Her campaign is centered around housing, wildfire preparedness, environmental p