In their first of two forums this week, the three candidates for the Fifth District seat on the Board of Supervisors shared their opinions on variety of issues affecting the most northern areas of Santa Barbara County.
Approximately 70 people attended the forum held Monday at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Santa Maria where candidates covered a wide range of topics including public safety, budget, Solomon Hills proposal, livable wages, housing, and more.
With current Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino not seeking a fifth term, this has marked the first contest without an incumbent since he first ran for job nearly 16 years ago.
The vacancy attracted a three candidates: Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez, a Santa Maria City Council member and attorney; Ricardo Valencia, Santa Maria-Bonita School District board member and Santa Maria High School teacher; and Cory Bantilan, Lavaganino’s chief of staff for the past 15-plus years.
The Fifth District includes northern Santa Maria neighborhoods plus the city of Guadalupe and the unincorporated community of Tanglewood.
For approximately 90 minutes, the trio took turns cordially answering questions with an occasional subtle political jab.
Regarding public safety, Valencia said it’s essential to invest in resources to ensure people have access to social services, mental health services, or substance abuse services to lower crime rate.
“When we develop a healthy community that doesn’t criminalize our community that’s when we’ll be able to thrive and that’s what I’m excited to do for our county,” Valencia said.
Aguilera-Hernandez called for collaborating with law enforcement officers in the communities and undertaking gang prevention efforts as she touted her youth empowerment plan.
“I truly believe that if you keep young kids occupied with something that they’re passionate about they won’t have time to get in trouble and we will see gang activity reduced,” she said.
Public safety is the most basic responsibility of local government, Bantilan said, adding he supports getting get rid of the South County Main Jail due to costs, its age and other flaws.
Still, inmates in the jail typically aren’t accused of low-level crimes, he added.
“These are serious criminals and I think we need to treat it that way,” he said adding he supports diversion programs for those accused of committing lesser crimes. “But I think on the felonies we need to make sure we’re keeping this county safe.”
One question centered on living wages and what industries should adopt them. Some groups recently pushed for the county to adopt a minimum wage of $26 per hour for farmworkers.
Bantilan said the state and federal governments, not the county, should set minimum wages.
“What happens if we mandate $26 an hour in Santa Barbara County? Agriculture’s going to disappear here. It’s going to go to SLO County,” he said, calling the proposal short-sighted.
Valencia declared himself “a champion for working people especially some of our most vulnerable workers.”
“I’m proud that I am a union teacher and I can see that the supervisors are in dire need of having that union member perspective,” he said.
Aguilera-Hernandez said the county needs to make it easier for businesses providing well-paying jobs. She also called for a focus on skilled trades and apprenticeships that lead to good-paying jobs that don’t require degrees.
“We shouldn’t really be talking about what the minimum wage is but most importantly how do we get past that because that’s just the minimum and that’s not good enough for anybody,” she said.
Another question center on how the new Fifth District supervisor would work with colleagues to get the votes needed.
State rules limit elected officials from discussing issues privately to avoid backroom deals, Bantilan said.
“It’s about building relationships. That’s what I’ve done my last 15 years. It doesn’t matter if you’re Republican or Democrat, I’m very well-respected at the county and I think it takes time to build those relationships,” he said, adding compromise is a key part of the role.
“I think you need somebody that can reach across the aisle, talk to folks and really cut a deal,”Bantilan added.
Valencia noted he has been endorsed by County Supervisors Joan Hartmann and Laura Capps.
“It will be relatively easy for me already having their support to build those bridges because North County and South County has been divided for way too long,” Valencia said. “And I want to make sure that the people of Guadalupe and Santa Maria that we have our needs met at the county level. That’s a thing that has been missing for far too long.”
Aguilera-Hernandez said she worked to build alliances among colleagues with different opinions while serving the Santa Maria City Council and during her previous eight years serving on the Planning Commission.
“We must focus on what unites us and makes us a good community and what unites the district and not so much what divides us from all the other districts,” Aguilera-Hernandez said, adding it’s important to be a good leader and focus on data to build trust and negotiate.
The candidates will gather again Thursday for a second forum from 6 to 8 p.m. at Guadalupe City Hall, 918 Obispo St.
The League of Women Voters of North Santa Barbara County organized the forums with the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce serving as a sponsor to help fund translation services for audience members.
If one candidate doesn’t receive more than 50% of the votes in the June 2 primary election, the top two vote-getters will face off for Nov. 3 general election. Whoever wins the four-year term will start the job in January 2027.
