Local Politics · Santa Maria, CA
Fifth District Supervisor Campaigns Pass $534K Ahead of Nov. 3 Election
The fundraising campaigns for the open Santa Barbara County Fifth District supervisor seat have surpassed $534,000 total, making it the most expensive local race on Tuesday's ballot. Maribel Aguilera, a Santa Maria City Council member and independent, has raised $304,541 this year, while Ricardo Valencia, a Santa Maria-Bonita School District board member and Democrat, has raised more than $229,584. The Fifth District represents Santa Maria, Guadalupe and the northernmost region of the county. A political action committee backed by Sable Offshore Corp., PG&E and others has spent over $110,000 opposing Valencia and supporting Aguilera. Both candidates reported approximately $100,000 in cash on hand as of the mid-October campaign finance reporting deadline.