The name of a man who has been a great champion of Santa Maria may adorn the city’s post office if a local lawmaker’s proposal gets Congressional approval. 

On Monday, Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, revealed his proposal to recognize former Mayor Larry Lavagnino’s legacy of service to the community.

“When I return to Congress next week, I will be introducing legislation to officially rename the Santa Maria Post Office on Battles Road in honor of Santa Maria’s longtime mayor and favorite son, Larry Lavagnino,” Carbajal said.

He added that he is hopeful that the bill will be approved within months.

“Mayor Lavagnino, you deserve a recognition that cements your legacy in this community for generations, and I am proud to champion that recognition in Congress,” Carbajal said.

The congressman noted that he and Lavagnino belong to different political parties. 

“But this is not about the party. This is not about politics. This is about appreciating somebody who has been a role model, an example of what we all aspire to be — to serve our community and to do it the best way possible,” Carbajal said.

Carbajal previously served alongside the former mayor’s son, Steve, on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and couldn’t resist a friendly verbal jab at his former colleague, saying the proposal comes “in spite of your son.”

Calling his dad “quite the legend,” Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino, board chair, said that when he’s at stores, restaurants and community events, people often ask about his dad, sharing amusing stories about something Larry Lavagnino said or did.

“There are possibly more people that are more deserving, but I can promise you there is no one who loves the city more than my dad,” Steve Lavagnino said. “People around town know that, so whether or not they agree with everything you said or did, they respect that you always did what you thought was in the best interest of the city of Santa Maria.”

However, the son couldn’t resist one of his trademark quips.

“Congratulations. Let’s see if Salud can figure out how to get that huge name on that small building,” Steve Lavagnino said. 

Larry Lavagnino recalled being a young child and picking up copies of the city’s daily newspaper to sell for a dime in front of the old post office building decades ago. 

“Little did I know my name would eventually be placed on that building,” Larry Lavagnino said. 

“I can guarantee that this would come as a tremendous shock to my mom and dad as well as to many of my teachers, especially the Sisters of St. Francis,” Larry Lavagnino added, referring to the nuns who taught him at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic School. 

As he spoke, his family, including wife Donna, daughter Laurie Pipan and her husband, Ed, son Steve and his wife, Marian, were among families members on hand for the announcement. 

Larry Lavagnino is a Santa Maria High School graduate who also attended Allan Hancock College and served in the U.S. Navy.

After his military service, Lavagnino worked as an aide to former county supervisors Curtis Tunnell Sr. and Harrell Fletcher. Lavagnino also served as government affairs representative for Southern California Gas Co. and an oil-related firm.

He initially spent six years on the Santa Maria City Council and later served as mayor for 10 years, before stepping down in 2012.

“Under Mayor Lavagnino’s leadership, we saw so many great ideas and projects come to reality,” Carbajal said, ticking off new buildings — from the library and transit center to the Police Department — along with the widening of Highway 101 and the bridge across the Santa Maria River.

However, one of the biggest involved getting federal funding for the Santa Maria River Levee.

“Each of these projects deserves to have your name on it, Larry, but as a member of Congress, I don’t have that much power,” Carbajal said.

The former mayor said people still thank him for his service although he left the dais more than a decade ago.

“The reality is, I have had a love affair with this city for 88 years and the pleasure is all mine,” he said. “I am humbled at the magnitude of this honor.”

The plaza in front of the Santa Maria Public Library was previously named after Lavagnino.

In 2015, the Lompoc post office was renamed to recognize correctional officer Scott Williams, who was killed while working at the Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex.