With two years left on his Santa Maria City Council term, Carlos Escobedo resigned from his role as the 1st District’s representative in early March.
Eleven minutes into the council’s March 3 meeting, Escobedo announced his decision from the dais during the public comment period.
“Due to my upcoming move outside District 1, I will no longer meet the residency requirement necessary to continue serving this role,” Escobedo said. “While this decision comes with mixed emotions, I believe that stepping down is the appropriate and responsible course of action.
“Serving the residents of District 1 and the broader Santa Maria community has been a tremendous honor,” he continued. “I’m deeply grateful for the trust placed in me, and for the opportunity to work alongside dedicated staff and the community partners in service to our city.”
Some attendees of the meeting applauded after Escobedo’s remarks, including all four of his peers on the dais. Mayor Alice Patino and Councilmember Gloria Flores also gave Escobedo standing ovations before he exited council chambers, while Councilmembers Maribel Aguilera and Gloria Soto stayed seated.
“So, that’s effective now?” Soto asked staff after Escobedo walked away. “Do we talk about what happens next? … Staff didn’t have prior notice of this?”
“No,” City Attorney Thomas Watson responded. “I’m equally surprised, … I will be providing the council with a memorandum as to next steps, but as of right now, that seat is vacant.”
Soto then glanced over to Patino, who said she also didn’t know about Escobedo’s resignation prior to his announcement.
During the council’s previous meeting on Feb. 26, one of the last topics Escobedo weighed in on was about considering the formation of an immigration ad hoc committee—as part of a discussion that the council tabled in October 2025.
“I think it’s going to be an interesting conversation,” he said.
Escobedo also said he was looking forward to finally getting “things done, … not just about this item, but all sorts of items. … We’ve been putting aside so many decisions.”
About an hour after Escobedo resigned on March 3, a motion to establish the ad hoc failed with a 2-2 vote (Patino and Flores dissented).
“After five months, are you kidding me?” someone said from the audience.
Similar comments bled into the next item, prompting Patino to call some attendees “out of order” and announced that there would be a five-minute recess.
On March 6, the city announced an online application process for residents of the 1st District to complete if they would like to be considered to temporarily fill the vacant seat. The deadline to apply is March 26 by 5 p.m.
After applications are collected, the council will have the option to appoint someone to represent the 1st District until the November 2026 election. At that time, the elected council member will serve the remainder of Escobedo’s term, through 2028, according to the city.
This article appears in March 12, 2026 – March 19, 2026.