An emotional Gilda Cordova has denied allegations that she lives outside Lompoc and that she committed fraud, the latest in a campaign that she contends aims to get her removed from the Lompoc City Council.

Cordova, who has served on the council since January 2019, has been accused of living in the Lompoc suburb of Mesa Oaks, allegations she says “broke my heart.” 

“In recent days, I have been on the receiving end of attacks by a select few in this community,” she said, noting that the allegations were made by one man but shared on a website and social media pages. 

“This tells me that there is a select few that have made it their mission to discredit me, confuse and distort the minds of the residents of Lompoc, and also ultimately they seek to have me removed from this seat,” she said at the end of Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

Cordova purchased a house on Lewis Drive in mid-2022 as an investment property and used the address for her Legend Hospitality business in documents filed with the state. She said she used the Lewis address for business purposes for mail.

Lompoc resident Martin Bender sent a letter to the city attorney in February questioning Cordova’s residency and calling for her removal from the City Council, according to a copy obtained by Noozhawk under the California Public Records Act.

An anonymous blog post, which did not identify Bender as the letter writer, also claimed that Cordova had committed fraud, leading her to obtain a letter from the Santa Barbara County Assessor’s Office confirming that she never received a homeowner’s credit for the property.

She said some residents find it hard “to believe or understand that there are individuals here that do not believe that a Latino middle-aged, hardworking” woman could own more than one property.

“None of those people that are willing to speak out in such a negative manner are ever going to show up to a council meeting because they’re the same people that don’t show up for the things that need to be done and the hard work that needs to be performed in this community,” Cordova said. 

In a letter to Bender, City Attorney Jeff Malawy said he and Cordova discussed the Lewis Drive property that she used for business purposes. 

“I confirmed that owning a property outside Lompoc city limits does not disqualify her from serving on the City Council, as long as her separate house within the city limits of Lompoc remains her residence, under the laws of residency,” Malawy wrote in the letter to Bender. “Based on what Councilmember Cordova told me in our conversation several months ago, my opinion is that her residence remains at her house within the city limits of Lompoc.”

Cordova said accusations of her using her position on the City Council and Explore Lompoc (Visit Lompoc LLC) are “untrue, unfair and unfounded.”

Cordova said she is considering all legal options against those making the false accusations.

Earlier in the meeting, Councilman Jeremy Ball said he served with Cordova on the Economic Development Committee and learned “a lot from her.”

“I have the utmost respect for her integrity. I continue to be honored to serve with her on the City Council, and I hope she stays,” Ball said.

Lucy Thoms-Harrington said she met Cordova while they worked on community projects and found her to be a passionate advocate for Lompoc. 

“So this gives pause — what group is behind a campaign to smear Councilmember Cordova’s good name? What would motivate them to conduct a smear campaign? Is it to disrupt a well-functioning City Council which is making positive change in the community? Is it because she’s a woman of color in a leadership position? Is it because there is a business motivation which would benefit them?” Thoms-Harrington asked.