In Guadalupe’s contested mayoral race, incumbent Mayor Ariston Julian and his opponent, Councilwoman Christina Hernandez, discussed their vision for financial recovery, public safety and the growth of the city at Monday’s candidate forum.
Four candidates — Julian and Hernandez, as well as Robert Diaz and Randy Altergott, who are pursuing City Council seats — answered questions on topics such as the city’s more than $3 million budget deficit, public safety, commercial revitalization, infrastructure, and local effects of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions.
The forum was organized by the nonpartisan League of Women Voters and moderated by Jennifer Dolan. Community members also asked questions of the candidates.
Julian, who has served on the City Council for 12 years and has been mayor for the past three years, said the city should stick to its 2042 general plan, which envisions 900 additional housing units, 520 new jobs and 10,700 residents, during the structural budget deficit. Additionally, he discussed how public safety accounts for 53% of the current budget, and continuing to reduce overtime via recent staffing shifts.
“We’re going to be in a deficit for another almost two years,” Julian said, “so we really need to look at where we generate the resources to … eliminate some of the budget deficit.”
He spoke about how the city needs to “stop digging a hole” to make Guadalupe “the best place to live.”
He also stressed revitalizing the city’s business district along Main Street by collaborating with the Guadalupe Business Association to fill the vacant commercial properties. That would, in turn, expand local commercial options in the city as opposed to residents shopping in surrounding areas.
Hernandez, who has been in office for nearly four years, is centering her campaign on community engagement and securing regional grants. She highlighted that she secured $1 million in state funds for local infrastructure, such as the Pioneer Lift Station for the city’s sewer and wastewater infrastructure. She also proposes public grant tracking binders and streamlining business permits.
“My leadership starts with listening [and] building relationships,” Hernandez said. “I want to improve communications, go out to the community and hear firsthand, what are the challenges that they are experiencing from asking questions.”
She also spoke on having an improved downtown area in order to bring in better revenue.
“I want a stronger downtown to help create more jobs, bring revenue and support our local economy,” Hernandez said.
She noted a Santa Barbara Foundation report indicating that only 10% of regional nonprofit services reach Guadalupe. She said she wants to build stronger ties with local organizations and school districts to bring youth programming and bilingual financial literacy resources into the city.
Diaz and Altergott are running unopposed for two open City Council seats. They focused their discussion on recovering financially and growing business while maintaining essential services.
Diaz, who spent the past 18 years involved in the health and human services field as well as being a board executive for nonprofit organizations, spoke on bringing nonprofit partnerships to bridge the city’s budget gaps and expanding local tax dollars in Guadalupe. He said he wants to keep money local so it doesn’t “bleed out everywhere else,” including neighboring cities such as Santa Maria.
“I’m here to work,” Diaz said. “Finding solutions to funding deficits and gaps, utilizing grant funding, foundation donations, private partnerships, whatever that looks like to get what needs to be done, done.”
Altergott, who’s the treasurer of the Guadalupe Business Association, also focused on finances and commercial success. He stressed expanding Main Street’s businesses, as well as exploring options such as a boutique hotel in order to better capture tourism in the area.
“My priorities really are to help the city succeed,” Altergott said. “In the short term, it’ll be difficult, but in the long term, I think we can be very successful.”
Among all of the candidates, there was agreement that protecting public safety and preserving essential city services, such as police, fire and water utilities, should be Guadalupe’s highest priority. They also all agreed that the city must have discipline with their finances by cutting back on non-essential spending, all while protecting operations.
Additionally, they agreed that the city must remain diligent on infrastructure and flood recovery, such as repairing storm damage from the 2023 floods and securing regional grants to ensure reliable services.
The candidates also shared common ground regarding ICE operations in the community. They criticized aggressive tactics and highlighted concerns from the community. They agreed that local police should focus on safety as opposed to federal immigration actions, and highlighted the importance of community knowledge and assistance.
