The Board of Supervisors’ newest addition will either be Santa Maria City Councilmember Maribel Aguilera or Santa Maria-Bonita School District Board member Ricardo Valencia.
Aguilera—a local attorney and registered independent—received endorsements from the Santa Maria Police Officers’ Association, Santa Maria Firefighters Local 2020, California School Employees Association, Grower-Shipper Association of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, Laborers’ International Union of North America, and the Santa Barbara County Republican Party.
A registered Democrat and local high school teacher, Valencia is backed by the Santa Barbara Democratic Party, California Working Families Party, Indivisible Santa Maria, the Dolores Huerta Action Fund, state Sen. Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara), and U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara).
The Sun reached out to both 5th District candidates with questions. Their answers—received during a phone call with Valencia and an email interview with Aguilera—were edited for clarity and space.
Sun: When you look back on this past year, what are some of your personal favorite experiences or campaign accomplishments?
Aguilera: One of my favorite parts of this campaign has been knocking on doors and having real conversations with people. I’ve knocked on more than 9,000 doors during the general election, and every neighborhood has reminded me why I love this community. … I’ll also always remember the people who have given so much of themselves to this campaign. The volunteers who spend their weekends walking neighborhoods, the families who have welcomed us into their homes, and especially my family. My husband, Noe Hernandez, who has been by my side through it all, and our young daughter, Natalie, who has been my biggest cheerleader every step of the way. … Every decision I make is about building a county where my daughter and every kid like her can grow up safe and have a real future locally.
Valencia: A lot of people talk about investing in our youth, and our campaign is demonstrating with actions what that looks like. … Our paid staff are approximately 13 high school and community college students … so they’re learning about the political process, and we are inspiring youth to run for office themselves or support good causes. We are investing now in our present and future leaders, just as I have done for over 18 years as an educator. … Working-class kids of color don’t always have the luxury to volunteer their time as much as they would like to. Many of them are already contributing to their households or helping with groceries or gas because of the high cost of living. So, unless we provide internships that are paid, many of our working-class kids are going to be left behind.
Sun: Were there any individuals you met or experiences you had that taught you something new about these areas and/or will inform how you would approach the role of 5th District supervisor?
Aguilera: I grew up in Evans Park and worked in the fields alongside my parents, so this community has always been a part of who I am. What stood out to me while campaigning was hearing how many families are still dealing with challenges that haven’t received enough attention. In Guadalupe, for example, residents continue to talk about unreliable internet connections and the need for improvements to the roads connecting their community to Santa Maria. It’s one thing to understand these challenges from working in local government. It’s another to stand on someone’s doorstep and hear how those challenges affect their daily life.
Valencia: While there are people in our community that are thriving economically, there are many who are struggling to keep up with the high cost of living. I met middle-income families who have kids that cannot afford to rent or buy here, so their kids continue to live at home. … I’ll never forget talking to a farmworker who said that he is struggling to pay for food for his family. The people who harvest our food cannot afford to provide what they produce. He said that no matter the weather, extremely hot or extremely cold, whether he is sick, or his back is aching, he has to show up every day in the fields, or his family will go hungry.
Sun: Do you believe there’s been any misconceptions about your campaign or the 5th District race in general?
Aguilera: One misconception in this race is that the Board of Supervisors seat is a political one. It isn’t. … The job is about roads, public safety, housing, water, and land use, and those issues aren’t Republican or Democrat. The supervisor seat belongs to the people, not to the parties. … I’m an independent thinker, not beholden to party bosses. We’re electing a local representative, not a politician. In 12 years on the Planning Commission and City Council, I approved hundreds of housing units and improved public safety and youth programs. None of that was done for a party. It was done for our neighbors. … For me, local government has always been about getting things done for the people who live here.
Valencia: On the Santa Maria-Bonita school board, I asked the question: Was paying for police officers to rotate through our elementary and middle and junior high school campuses the best use of limited money, or would kids be safer with more counselors, more mental health support, and more reasons to stay engaged in school? That’s a legitimate debate. … Look at what keeps schools safe: a counselor who notices a kid in crisis, a threat that gets reported and taken seriously, a campus where students trust adults enough to speak up. … You don’t have to be a lawyer or have fancy titles to be a great leader. You can be a working-class educator like me, who shows up for the thousands of families and students I have served.
Reach Senior Staff Writer Caleb Wiseblood at cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in October 29 – November 5, 2026.
