Santa Maria Sun / News

His hat's in the ring

BY JEREMY THOMAS

Flanked by family members, Steve Lavagnino, brother of Santa Maria Mayor Larry Lavagnino, announced his intention to run for supervisor of Santa Barbara County’s 5th District on June 9. The election to decide the seat, currently held by the retiring Joe Centeno, will take place in June 2010. A self-described fiscal conservative, Lavagnino said he plans to base his campaign on wiser spending of taxpayer money and defending agriculture. If elected, Lavagnino promised to push for additional revenue steams into the county and place a moratorium on county welfare benefits to non-citizens. Lavagnino has spent the last six years as an aide to Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) but has never run for political office himself. He’s already gained the endorsement of Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) and Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joni Gray (4th District).