Election Day is April 20, 2026. Make your voice heard. Vote for real change in Isla Vista.
UCSB Off-Campus Senator

Vote Jake Horvitz

Isla Vista: Make It Work For Us

Clearer leases. Safer streets. Emergency call towers. Real follow-through on the issues off-campus students face every single day.

See My Plan Get In Touch
Jake Horvitz
Get to Know Me

About Jake

First-year student, musician, entrepreneur, and committed to making Isla Vista better for all of us.

Jake performing live on bass
Musician • Builder • Leader

A student who gets it.

I'm Jake Horvitz, a first-year Communications major at UC Santa Barbara. I've lived in Isla Vista for the past year, and I've experienced firsthand the challenges off-campus students face, from navigating confusing leases to walking down poorly lit streets at night.

Outside the classroom, I play upright bass in the UCSB Jazz Band, perform with my band Grapes of Wrath, and compose jazz. My debut album Corrections and Reflections is on Spotify and I was featured on Sounds of IV. I also build custom guitars and basses by hand, run a small business developing websites for local businesses, and coach Special Olympics athletes, because community means showing up for people who need it.

I'm a member of AEPi fraternity and deeply involved in the Greek and off-campus community. I know what student life in IV looks like, the good and the bad, and I want to make it work better for everyone.

1st Year, Communications UC Santa Barbara
Small Business Owner Web development for local businesses
UCSB Jazz Band Upright bass player & instrument builder
Special Olympics Coach Giving back to the community
What I Will Do

The Plan

Not vague promises. Specific, actionable steps to fix the problems off-campus students deal with every day.

Housing & Tenant Rights

  • Organize tenant rights workshops each quarter with UCSB Legal Resource Center
  • Create a plain-language lease guide students can actually understand
  • Push for stronger enforcement against landlords who withhold deposits or ignore repairs
  • Advocate for rent control measures to keep IV affordable for students
  • Build resources to help students find affordable housing before they get squeezed out

Safety & Infrastructure

  • Work with IV Community Services District to identify and fix poorly lit streets
  • Push for added lighting in high-risk areas throughout Isla Vista
  • Advocate for emergency call towers so students can summon 911 when they need it
  • Demand faster repairs to potholes and bike hazards before someone gets hurt
  • Address weekend safety concerns by making sure students get home safe, not arrested

Real Representation

  • Hold monthly open forums for off-campus students to voice concerns directly
  • Actively collect issues and bring them straight to Associated Students
  • Ensure off-campus problems are consistently addressed, not ignored
  • Be transparent about what AS is doing and where your student fees go
My Motivation

Why I'm Running

This isn't about a resume line. It's about fixing real problems.

What got me to run was the difficulty of finding housing as a first-year and seeing the chaos in Isla Vista on weekend nights. I'm not anti-party, this is college, but it breaks my heart to see students getting pulled over or arrested when what we really need is better infrastructure, better lighting, and emergency call towers so people can get help instead of getting in trouble. I want to be the senator who actually does something about it.
100%
Committed to Showing Up
Monthly
Open Forums for Students
Quarterly
Tenant Rights Workshops
Beyond the Platform

More Than Just a Candidate

When I'm not advocating for students, you'll find me playing upright bass with the UCSB Jazz Band, performing with my band Grapes of Wrath (@thegrapesofwrathlive), or in my workshop building custom guitars and basses from scratch. I'm also a jazz composer and my album Corrections and Reflections is streaming on Spotify. I was also featured on Sounds of IV. Music has taught me discipline, collaboration, and how to listen, skills I'll bring directly to the Senate.

I also run a small web development business helping local businesses build their online presence, and I coach Special Olympics athletes, because real leadership means serving your community in every way you can.

I'm not the kind of candidate who disappears after election day. I'm here, I'm invested in this community, and I'll keep showing up.

Corrections and Reflections album cover by Jake Horvitz
Let's Connect

Get In Touch

Have a concern about Isla Vista? Want to get involved? Reach out anytime.

Email jakehorvitz@ucsb.edu
Instagram @jhorvitzz
LinkedIn Jake Horvitz

Your Vote Matters

Election Day is April 20, 2026. A vote for me is a vote for clearer leases, safer streets, and real follow-through. Let's make Isla Vista work for us.

Join the Campaign