The Destiny of Das: How a kid from Isla Vista became Montecito’s Assemblyman
Five purple dreadlocks dangled from his clean-shaven head.
And he stunk. The smell of stale beer and old sodas exuded from his
pores.
And he stunk. The smell of stale beer and old sodas exuded from his
pores.
But a 16-year-old skinny kid named Das Gault-Williams was undaunted.
He was determined.
He was determined.
He earned money every weekend sorting recyclables at the Community
Environmental Council’s collection center at Montecito Union School.
Das figured out a way on weekends to get from Santa Barbara’s Pershing
Park, where he lived — in his Volkswagen van — to the collection center.
But on this otherwise perfect day in Montecito, Das was unusually
vexed. He needed to make a telephone call to the CEC’s main
headquarters.
Environmental Council’s collection center at Montecito Union School.
Das figured out a way on weekends to get from Santa Barbara’s Pershing
Park, where he lived — in his Volkswagen van — to the collection center.
But on this otherwise perfect day in Montecito, Das was unusually
vexed. He needed to make a telephone call to the CEC’s main
headquarters.
It was the early 90s, and Das didn’t carry a cell phone. He wouldn’t
have wanted one anyway at the time, even if he could have afforded it.
They just weren’t cool gear for the skate-surf-kid, heavily influenced
by the punk street and surf culture.
have wanted one anyway at the time, even if he could have afforded it.
They just weren’t cool gear for the skate-surf-kid, heavily influenced
by the punk street and surf culture.
So dreadlocks, sweat, smell and all, Das trekked up San Ysidro Road
into the upper village and the heart of Montecito. It was the first
time he had ever ventured that far. People stared. And glared.
into the upper village and the heart of Montecito. It was the first
time he had ever ventured that far. People stared. And glared.
“I got some strange looks,” he said. “I totally don’t blame them. I am
thankful that the people of Montecito don’t hold their first
impression against me.”
thankful that the people of Montecito don’t hold their first
impression against me.”
More than 20 years later, Das still turns heads when he walks. But he
doesn’t need the flamboyant dreadlocks, or skater-garb anymore.
When he goes to Montecito, he’s just a grown Das Williams, a two-term
former Santa Barbara City Councilman and now a first-term California
state Assemblyman, representing Montecito and half of Santa Barbara
and Ventura Counties.
doesn’t need the flamboyant dreadlocks, or skater-garb anymore.
When he goes to Montecito, he’s just a grown Das Williams, a two-term
former Santa Barbara City Councilman and now a first-term California
state Assemblyman, representing Montecito and half of Santa Barbara
and Ventura Counties.
And he smells good now, especially when he occasionally attends
Montecito Covenant Church or rides a wave at a secret surf spot near
Butterfly Beach.
Montecito Covenant Church or rides a wave at a secret surf spot near
Butterfly Beach.
The Assemblyman
When he is home on the South Coast, life is scheduled in 15-
minute increments. The idea of not having a telephone seems almost
other-worldly. He lives on his Smartphone. Talking. Text-messaging.
Emailing. Researching.
minute increments. The idea of not having a telephone seems almost
other-worldly. He lives on his Smartphone. Talking. Text-messaging.
Emailing. Researching.
“The pace is so much different,” said Williams, recently from his
downtown Santa Barbara office. “On the City Council, my life was
scheduled in hour increments. Meetings lasted two hours. Now, I need
to get things done in 15 or 30 minutes. I just have so much more to do.”
Since taking office last December, after defeating Republican Mike
Stoker, the whirlwind that had always been Williams only spun faster.
He’s never been a guy who could sit still very long.
downtown Santa Barbara office. “On the City Council, my life was
scheduled in hour increments. Meetings lasted two hours. Now, I need
to get things done in 15 or 30 minutes. I just have so much more to do.”
Since taking office last December, after defeating Republican Mike
Stoker, the whirlwind that had always been Williams only spun faster.
He’s never been a guy who could sit still very long.
He’s always on to the next thing.
Since taking office last December, 10 of Williams’ bills have become
law. He added a fee to every DUI in the county – money that goes to
Cottage Health System’s Level 2 Trauma Center. Over two years, that
amount will reach $1.4 million. He helped the Santa Barbara Unified
School District maintain nearly $2 million in parcel taxes after the
elementary and secondary districts unified.
law. He added a fee to every DUI in the county – money that goes to
Cottage Health System’s Level 2 Trauma Center. Over two years, that
amount will reach $1.4 million. He helped the Santa Barbara Unified
School District maintain nearly $2 million in parcel taxes after the
elementary and secondary districts unified.
In the Assembly, his biggest focus has been education. One of the
bills that stalled in the legislature was a proposal to double fines
of motorists speeding in school zones.
bills that stalled in the legislature was a proposal to double fines
of motorists speeding in school zones.
He also fought for the rights of schools to take back redevelopment
money gained from property taxes, most of which currently goes to
cities to clean up blight or build affordable housing.
money gained from property taxes, most of which currently goes to
cities to clean up blight or build affordable housing.
He’s most proud that the state spared deep budget cuts to K-12 as
it was looking to make up a $20 billion deficit. On the table was a
proposal to cut three weeks out of the school year.
it was looking to make up a $20 billion deficit. On the table was a
proposal to cut three weeks out of the school year.
Williams said he couldn’t let that happen.
“I felt schools had been savaged too much in previous years,” Williams
said. “If you look at the biggest indicators of performance, it’s
length of instruction, not quality of instruction. The worst thing you
can do is cut the amount of time students spend in the classroom.”
said. “If you look at the biggest indicators of performance, it’s
length of instruction, not quality of instruction. The worst thing you
can do is cut the amount of time students spend in the classroom.”
Isla Vista kid
The idea that school is Williams’ No. 1 issue as an assemblyman is
more than a bit ironic, considering his own battles with the public
school system as kid.
more than a bit ironic, considering his own battles with the public
school system as kid.
Williams attended seven different elementary schools, bouncing around
between divorced parents. He grew up mostly in Isla Vista, but also
went to schools in Ojai.
The son of Malcolm Gault-Williams, a famed writer and surf historian,
Williams practically lived on a surf board as a kid and teen, catching
waves at Sands Beach, Hammonds, anytime he could get a free moment to
break free.
Williams practically lived on a surf board as a kid and teen, catching
waves at Sands Beach, Hammonds, anytime he could get a free moment to
break free.
As a teenager, Williams fled to the ocean to escape a world around
him where he never felt like he truly belonged. A self-described former
“teenage alcoholic” Williams struggled to find his sense of purpose.
When he wasn’t on a surfboard, he was on a skateboard, rolling all
over Isla Vista, with his sometimes shaved head, or long hair,
depending on his mood.
him where he never felt like he truly belonged. A self-described former
“teenage alcoholic” Williams struggled to find his sense of purpose.
When he wasn’t on a surfboard, he was on a skateboard, rolling all
over Isla Vista, with his sometimes shaved head, or long hair,
depending on his mood.
Wildy curious, Williams had problems with school. He liked to be
outside, and he rejected structure.
outside, and he rejected structure.
“When I was moving around in elementary school between Santa Barbara
and Ventura County, I always felt like a perpetual outsider,” Williams
said. “I was an introvert who brought big books with me and read them
everywhere I went.”
and Ventura County, I always felt like a perpetual outsider,” Williams
said. “I was an introvert who brought big books with me and read them
everywhere I went.”
He dropped out of Dos Pueblos High School at 16. And when his father
moved out of town for a job, Williams, refused to go. He pulled
together money and bought a Volkswagen van, parked it at Pershing Park
— and lived in it.
moved out of town for a job, Williams, refused to go. He pulled
together money and bought a Volkswagen van, parked it at Pershing Park
— and lived in it.
He enrolled in political science classes at Santa Barbara City
College. He washed up in the bathrooms and couch-surfed at friends’
house. At SBCC, he was finally able to channel his energy and activist
spirit in a positive way; he was deeply affected by his political
science instructors, such as Dr. John Kay.
College. He washed up in the bathrooms and couch-surfed at friends’
house. At SBCC, he was finally able to channel his energy and activist
spirit in a positive way; he was deeply affected by his political
science instructors, such as Dr. John Kay.
He took an interest in social and global issues. By the time he was
17, Williams had figured out how to transform his fearlessness and free-
spirit attitude into action. He was accepted to UC Berkeley.
17, Williams had figured out how to transform his fearlessness and free-
spirit attitude into action. He was accepted to UC Berkeley.
He earned a political science degree from Cal, and volunteered in
Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress for a year.
Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress for a year.
With his confidence high, Williams returned home — to Santa Barbara,
where he enrolled and earned a master’s degree in Environmental
Studies at UCSB.
where he enrolled and earned a master’s degree in Environmental
Studies at UCSB.
City Hall
Even though Williams has been gone from Santa Barbara City Hall for 10
months, his presence – or lack of it – can be found every day in De la
Guerra Plaza.
months, his presence – or lack of it – can be found every day in De la
Guerra Plaza.
At 29, Williams stunned political insiders by announcing that he would
run for City Council. He had some name recognition in town because he
worked on former Assemblywoman Hannah Beth-Jackson’s campaign and had
been the No on Recall manager for the attempt to recall former Santa
Barbara County Supervisor Gail Marshall.
run for City Council. He had some name recognition in town because he
worked on former Assemblywoman Hannah Beth-Jackson’s campaign and had
been the No on Recall manager for the attempt to recall former Santa
Barbara County Supervisor Gail Marshall.
But he was an activist, and the idea that he would run without being
groomed by the liberal Democratic power elite seemed laughable;
certainly no one though he could win.
groomed by the liberal Democratic power elite seemed laughable;
certainly no one though he could win.
But this was the same scrappy kid who lived on the streets as a
teenager, who overcame his alcoholism and rebellious nature; Getting
elected was a far easier battle than what he had already experienced in
his life.
teenager, who overcame his alcoholism and rebellious nature; Getting
elected was a far easier battle than what he had already experienced in
his life.
If he organized people to vote in South Africa, he certainly could
rally a new generation of liberal activists in Santa Barbara.
And that’s what he did. Pushing the then-radical idea of a living wage
ordinance, Williams swept into City Hall.
rally a new generation of liberal activists in Santa Barbara.
And that’s what he did. Pushing the then-radical idea of a living wage
ordinance, Williams swept into City Hall.
As a councilman, Williams successfully and simultaneously navigated
both worlds: he could wear hooped earrings with a shaved head while
appealing to young progressives, or slap on a perfectly fitting suit he bought at the
thrift store and mix it up with the business community. He could pull
both looks off convincingly.
both worlds: he could wear hooped earrings with a shaved head while
appealing to young progressives, or slap on a perfectly fitting suit he bought at the
thrift store and mix it up with the business community. He could pull
both looks off convincingly.
When he ran for re-election four years later, he was the top vote-
getter, getting more votes then current Mayor Helene Schneider.
With a handsome face, a charismatic personality, and an unparalleled
work ethic, Williams quickly became bigger than Santa Barbara City
Hall.
getter, getting more votes then current Mayor Helene Schneider.
With a handsome face, a charismatic personality, and an unparalleled
work ethic, Williams quickly became bigger than Santa Barbara City
Hall.
And those same cynics were now jumping on his bandwagon.
The young man who critics, both liberal and conservative, dismissed as
too idealistic and reckless to get elected, now finds himself perhaps
the second most powerful elected official in the region, behind Rep.
Lois Capps.
The young man who critics, both liberal and conservative, dismissed as
too idealistic and reckless to get elected, now finds himself perhaps
the second most powerful elected official in the region, behind Rep.
Lois Capps.
He hears from constituents in Montecito, mostly about land use
matters. He works closely with his friend County Supervisor Salud Carbajal.
He has strong feelings about Montecito’s biggest
embarrassment — the once-mighty Miramar. He thinks owner Caruso should
figure out a way to demolish it.
matters. He works closely with his friend County Supervisor Salud Carbajal.
He has strong feelings about Montecito’s biggest
embarrassment — the once-mighty Miramar. He thinks owner Caruso should
figure out a way to demolish it.
Now, at just 37 years old, the college dropout who nobody took
seriously in 2001, seems destined to always shake up the world around him. Once
a divider of the liberal left, he’s now a unifier.
seriously in 2001, seems destined to always shake up the world around him. Once
a divider of the liberal left, he’s now a unifier.
He’s come so far that when he ran for state Assembly last year,
liberals united behind him, rather than Susan Jordan, the wife of the
then-sitting Assemblyman Pedro Nava.
liberals united behind him, rather than Susan Jordan, the wife of the
then-sitting Assemblyman Pedro Nava.
The Santa Barbara resident is already planning for a second term in
the Assembly.
the Assembly.
“You can make a big difference, in even small ways,” Williams said. “I
take my job seriously. I love it. I feel useful. There’s a tremendous
amount that I can accomplish.”
take my job seriously. I love it. I feel useful. There’s a tremendous
amount that I can accomplish.”
And Montecito is in part of his plans, both politically and personally.
You won’t catch him in dreadlocks wandering around Montecito anymore.
But on any given Sunday, you might see Williams, a born-again
Christian, enjoying fellowship at Montecito Convenant Church.
Or near Butterfly Beach in the ocean.
You won’t catch him in dreadlocks wandering around Montecito anymore.
But on any given Sunday, you might see Williams, a born-again
Christian, enjoying fellowship at Montecito Convenant Church.
Or near Butterfly Beach in the ocean.
The water is the only place that connects the old Das and the new Das;
It’s where he escapes and where he returns. It’s the one place on
earth where the boy rebel and the grown-up lawmaker have always
been welcome.
It’s where he escapes and where he returns. It’s the one place on
earth where the boy rebel and the grown-up lawmaker have always
been welcome.
Das Williams/Photo by Gary Lambert/Daily Sound
