As a candidate in the first contested race in 16 years for the Fifth District seat on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, Ricardo Valencia has set his sights on ending the status quo.

“My people, we don’t have to accept the status quo. Status quo politics means the difference between rent and groceries, childcare that costs more than college, wages that don’t keep up with inflation,” Valencia, 42, said. “Are you down with that? Let me hear you say, ‘Hell no.’”

More than 100 people at the United Domestic Workers union headquarters in Santa Maria responded with “Hell no!” as Valencia, kicked off his campaign last month. 

He plans to launch his official door-to-door outreach this weekend to tout his message of affordable housing, good-paying job and accountable county leadership along with not collaborating with immigration enforcement efforts.

He reminded supporters the county board oversees a $1.7 billion budget with the five members making decisions affecting residents’ rent, commute, child care and family stability. 

“This is real power, and it must be used for the benefit of regular people just like us,” he said.

Valencia is one of three people running for the Fifth District seat now filled by Steve Lavagnino who announced in late 2022 his plans to retire from the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors at the end of his fourth term later this year.

In addition to Valencia, other candidates are Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez, an attorney and Santa Maria City Council member, plus Cory Bantilan, who has served as Lavagnino’s chief of staff. 

Since August 2010, Valencia has taught history at Santa Maria High School, from which he graduated in 2001.

He is in the middle of his second four-year term on the Santa Maria-Bonita School District Board after first being elected in 2020. 

Valencia grew up in Guadalupe before his family moved to Santa Maria and decided as a 10th grader he wanted to become a teacher.

He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and received a full-ride scholarship to Tufts University in Massachusetts to earn his Master of Arts in teaching. After teaching in classrooms in Boston for nearly three years, he returned to Santa Maria.

He shared about growing up with housing insecurity before his family ultimately bought a house in Santa Maria. 

“I had stability. I had my own room. I could focus. I could dream. Every family in District 5 deserves that same dignity,” he said. 

Although his parents worked full time, they still were eligible for food stamps.

“I used to be embarrassed by that,” he said. “But now I realize the only thing we should be ashamed of is a system that subsidizes billion-dollar corporations instead of paying people wages with dignity.”

Headed to a life of drugs and gangs, Valencia recalled wanting a tattoo at age 12 to make it official. But “the home boys” discouraged him from joining the gang life. 

“That decision changed my life forever. I am not ashamed of who I am and where I come from. This community made me, and that is who I fight for today,” he said.

He has characterized his effort as a grassroots campaign for a people-powered approach to government. 

On Saturday, Valencia, joined by Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann, will speak with volunteers as his campaign begins door-to-door voter outreach. 

His kickoff event last month also drew support from other elected officials from North County including Lompoc Councilmember Jeremy Ball, Buellton Mayor David Silva and Santa Maria Joint Union High School board member Alma Hernandez, who works as aide for Hartmann. 

“He works for the people, he’s lived in this community, he understands the needs of the community, and he is going to be fighting for each and every one of us as we make sure that this county takes care of the people,” said Silva, who grew up in the Santa Maria Valley.

“This is a race that demands courage, integrity, deep compassion, and that leader, that person, is Ricardo,” Ball said.

“Ricardo brings hometown values, authentic leadership and a deep commitment to service,” Hernandez said. “He’s not a career politician. He is a new voice rooted in community and focused on results. Isn’t it time that we have one of our own?”

The primary election is June 2. If one candidate doesn’t get more than 50% of the votes, the two top candidates will head to a runoff election in November. 

Along with the Fifth District seat, the Second District job, now filled by Laura Capps, will also be on the ballot in 2026. Capps has already announced she is running for re-election.

Whoever wins the race — whether in the June primary or November general election — will begin their job in January 2027. 

“I’m running for supervisor because I believe in working families, in dignity, and in this community. But I can’t do this alone,” Valencia said. “This seat is often bought by the biggest corporate donors. But let me be this clear, we are not for sale.”

Valencia’s campaign website is www.valenciaforsupervisor.com.