The fundraising campaigns of Maribel Aguilera and Ricardo Valencia for the Fifth District county supervisor seat have surpassed $534,000 total, making it the spendiest local race on Tuesday’s ballot.
The position, one of five on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, is an open race since incumbent Steve Lavagnino decided not to run again after serving 16 years in the role.
Valencia and Aguilera were the top two candidates in the June primary election’s three-way race, and now face off in the general election. The Fifth District represents Santa Maria, Guadalupe and the northernmost region of the county.
Aguilera has received $304,541 this year, with $104,000 of that coming in a pre-election push since Sept. 20.
Valencia has received more than $229,584 for the year, with $30,985 of it since Sept. 20.
Both reported about $100,000 cash on hand as of the mid-October campaign finance reporting deadline.
Aguilera is a business and real estate attorney who is currently a member of the Santa Maria City Council. Her campaign support includes large contributions from the business community, including local individuals and companies, and groups such as the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce.
Valencia is a high school teacher who is currently a member of the Santa Maria-Bonita School District school board. His campaign has seen broad support from individuals and Democratic political groups.
“We’ve heard nothing but positive things when we’ve been knocking on doors,” Aguilera said. “There’s a lot of overwhelming support locally.”
She and her campaign team have been walking door to door every weekend and talking to voters.
“The No. 1 concern when we knock on doors is affordability and the local economy,” she said. “A lot of families have two or three jobs just to get by.”
Both candidates are juggling full-time jobs and campaigns, and had a busy pre-election weekend planned with more canvassing and events.
“I will sleep after Tuesday,” Aguilera said.
“This weekend, we will continue knocking on doors and making calls until every voter is reached,” Valencia said.
“Our campaign is proud to have the support of more than 300 individual donors — working families, teachers, students, small business owners, home care providers, unions, and friends who know me through my work at Santa Maria High School, the Bonita School Board, UC Berkeley, and Tufts University,” Valencia said.
“It is humbling and inspiring to know they believe in my leadership and what this campaign stands for.”
Both candidates have collected a long list of endorsements in addition to their sizable campaign chests.
County supervisor is a nonpartisan office, but some support has lined up along candidates’ political affiliations: Aguilera is an independent, and Valencia is a Democrat.
Aguilera said as an independent, she “doesn’t get the financial backing other candidates do from political parties.”
“That’s been a little bit harder than just getting donations from Democrats,” she said.
“There may be critics and corporations who would rather not see me win, but with the backing of our community, we will persevere and fight for a thriving District 5,” Valencia said.
PAC Spends $110,000 Opposing Valencia, Supporting Aguilera
A political action committee formed last year has spent more than $110,000 opposing Valencia and supporting Aguilera in the race.
The North County Jobs & Opportunity PAC did not donate directly to either campaign, but spent the money to support one candidate and oppose another.
The PAC spent money on social media ads and mailers in recent expenditures, according to county campaign finance records.
Sable Offshore Corp., the company operating the offshore oil platforms and transportation pipeline in Santa Barbara County, donated $61,000 to the PAC on Oct. 21 in addition to the $49,000 it had already contributed.
Other financial contributors include the Deputy Sheriffs Association, the Santa Barbara County Republican Party, and PG&E.
The principal officers of the PAC are Tony Guy and Glenn Morris of Santa Maria, and Chip Wullbrandt of Ballard.
