Krishna Flores is going up against Bob Nelson in the Santa Barbara County 4th District supervisorial race with a little more than $2,000—$44,000 less than incumbent Nelson.
“As a challenger running a true grassroots campaign, we never expected large sums of money, but we had a great plan to spend the money wisely and strategically,” Flores told the Sun in a statement.
According to campaign finance filings, Flores, a Democrat, has $2,327.87 moving into the March 5 primary.
In 2023, Flores raised $4,000—receiving two $1,000 contributions from Florence Flores in Garden City, New York, and Santa Barbara City College costume design professor Pamela Shaw. Flores also contributed $500 to her own campaign, according to filings. She spent $1,899.30 in 2023, paying $250 for consulting services, $1,070.96 in candidate filings and $117 in office expenses.
Between Jan. 1 and 20, Flores raised $550. According to 24-hour contribution reports—which require candidates to submit information within a day if it’s $1,000 or more—Flores received $1,000 on Jan. 23 from the Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee and $1,000 from the Democratic Women of Santa Barbara on Jan. 24. The next pre-election campaign finance filing deadline is Feb. 22.
Republican incumbent Nelson raised $46,671.73 between Jan. 1 to 20, and received $2,500 from retired Buellton resident Dennis Patrick on Jan. 26, and $2,072.85 from Kavaughn Baghbeh, a project manager for customizable notebook company Happy Brands, on Feb. 1, according to 24-hour contribution reports.
Nelson received $5,500 from 5th District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino’s 2024 campaign; $5,500 from Asset Equipment owner Travis Turning; three $4,900 contributions from Carpinteria residents Timothy Bliss and Virginia Bliss and Investment Group of Santa Barbara Developer Maurice Duca, according to filings.
In 2023, he received $5,500 from Jordan Cunningham’s 2026 lieutenant governor campaign; $5,500 from Bonita Packing Company Inc.; and $200 from Nick Mirman, who works with the former assemblymember at Mirman Cunningham Public Affairs, according to filings.
Oil and energy companies also contributed to the incumbent’s race in 2022, with Nelson receiving $4,900 from the California Independent Petroleum Association, based in Irvine; $500 from Pacific Gas and Electric; and $4,900 from Pacific Coast Energy Company. Solstra Communities California LLC, the applicant for Solomon Hills—an Orcutt housing project that proposes to develop up to 4,000 residential units—also contributed $4,900 in 2022.
