Two candidates for the Fourth District seat on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors talked about protecting agricultural land, addressing the need for more housing and a slew of other issues Thursday night.

Incumbent Bob Nelson and challenger Krishna Flores participated in the forum hosted by the Lompoc-Vandenberg Branch of the American Association of University Women along with the recently renamed League of Women Voters of North Santa Barbara County.

During the hourlong session at Lompoc City Hall, the pair answered questions about homelessness, Vandenberg Space Force Base launch activity, gun violence, code enforcement and more.

One topic involved a Santa Maria proposal for annexing 1,000 acres of agriculture land. 

While the Santa Maria and Lompoc valleys have productive ag land, any expansion into those areas needs to be done in an orderly way, Nelson said.

“I think when we choose ag lands to rezone or have annexed in the future, they need to make sure that they’re ones that are the least productive agriculturally,” Nelson said. “I definitely think there are the right places and the wrong place to do annexations and rezoning. Agriculture is our No. 1 industry in this county, and once it’s gone, we don’t get it back.”

Flores said she was happy to hear Nelson’s comment, citing a 17-acre housing development with 59 houses under construction on farmland across the street from her home in Los Alamos.

“I hope that the protection of ag land in the Santa Maria area — although I think we have better dirt — is something that you’re focused on,” Flores said, adding that “preserving ag land where I live makes a lot of sense.”

“The tension between ag and development is going to continue, and we have to be the stewards of our land because I agree once it’s gone it’s gone” she added.

She made multiple mentions about the Los Alamos development approved in 2005 — before Nelson joined the board — and now under construction to the dismay of some in the community.

The Village Square (formerly Legacy Estates) underwent several public hearings two decades ago and then sat dormant before work began recently. Several of the opponents moved to Los Alamos after the project went through the approval process. 

The Fourth District now includes a southern segment of Santa Maria along with multiple unincorporated areas, including Orcutt, Los Alamos Vandenberg Village, Mission Hills Casmalia, Siquoc/Garey, Tepusquet Canyon and Vandenberg Space Force Base. The city of Lompoc now falls in the Third District.

The new Fourth District has the largest unincorporated area among for the five districts in the county, bringing significant challenges in meeting the unique needs of each community. 

Nelson said he believes his role is to serve as a facilitator. 

“Someone who gets you resources, answers your calls and gets stuff done,” he said. “I don’t have regular meetings like my predecessor did, but you know what? Everyone in my district has my cellphone number. I’m very accessible. I’m on social media, and I’m available for those who need me when they need me.” 

Nelson is seeking his second term, but he previously worked as chief of staff for predecessor Peter Adam during his eight years in office. 

“It’s really a dream job to get to go to work every day and find ways to make my community better,” Nelson said. 

He said he brings experience in dealing with various challenges facing the county.

“This is a nonpartisan office, and really the party I belong to is the get-stuff-done party, and that’s what I focus on doing as your county supervisor,” he added. 

Flores, a political newcomer, said she entered the race “to shake up the status quo” and to give residents leadership “‘that will be accountable and transparent, empowering and responsive.”

She said her main concern spurring her into politics centers on a deep commitment to the community’s well-being.

“I’m not a political insider, a special-interest schmoozer — I wanted to say that word — and no one would ever mistake me for being part of a good ol’ boys network,” Flores said, adding that she is a school board member, community advocate and human resources professional. 

A video recording of the forum can be found on YouTube by clicking here.

The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is planning a meet the candidates forum from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Santa Maria Public Library’s Shepard Hall, with invitations including the pair of Fourth District candidates along with those in other races to be decided by Santa Maria Valley voters. 

The Fourth District seat is one of three up for grabs this year on the five-member board. With just two candidates in the race, the race likely will be decided in the March 5 primary election and avoid a runoff. However, the new four-year term won’t begin until January.