Local Politics · Santa Barbara County
Early results from Tuesday's Nov. 3 election show multiple ballot measures passing across Santa Barbara County. Measure D, an $80 million bond for Santa Ynez Valley Union High School facilities, led with 55.8% against a 55% threshold, while Allan Hancock College's $290 million Measure H led at 56.5%. Santa Maria's half-cent sales tax increase (Measure C) and Carpinteria's quarter-cent increase (Measure I) both exceeded their simple-majority thresholds with strong margins. Isla Vista voters backed a utility tax (Measure E, 70.6%) and a Community Services District spending limit (Measure F, 66.1%), while Guadalupe approved a cannabis tax replacement (Measure G, 68.0%) and a hotel tax increase to 12% (Measure J, 55.8%). Semi-official results were expected late Tuesday night, with final certified results due by Dec. 3.
Local Politics · Santa Maria, CA
In early results from Tuesday's election, incumbents Gloria Soto (District 3, 61.5%) and Vincent Martinez (District 4, 68.8%) led their respective Santa Maria City Council races, while appointed incumbent Richard Batalla topped District 1 with 48.2%. Measure C, a proposed half-percent sales tax increase from 8.75% to 9.25%, was passing with 65.1% in favor, expected to raise approximately $13 million to address a city budget shortfall. The newly elected members will be sworn into office in December, and final certified results are expected by Dec. 3.
Public Safety · Santa Barbara, CA
The Santa Barbara County Mosquito and Vector Management District confirmed Aedes aegypti specimens at four locations within the city of Santa Barbara on Oct. 30, including sites near North Voluntario/East Cota, Laguna/East Carrillo, and East Victoria/Olive streets. The detections follow prior findings in Carpinteria in July and an unincorporated area between Santa Barbara and Goleta on Oct. 16, as well as Aedes notoscriptus detections in the Westside and Mesa neighborhoods earlier in 2026. MVMD General Manager Brian Cabrera called the multiple South County detections a "critical turning point" and urged residents to eliminate standing water and report daytime mosquito activity. The district advised all Santa Barbara County residents to dump containers, repair screens, use insect repellent, and ensure pets are on heartworm prevention.
Community News · Santa Maria, CA
The City of Santa Maria Utilities Department canceled its annual Pumpkin Smashing Event, scheduled for Saturday, November 7, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Elwin Mussell Senior Center. The cancellation was a precaution following a San Luis Obispo County health investigation into five confirmed cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli potentially linked to Brookshire Farms, a pumpkin patch in San Luis Obispo; investigators have not determined the source. The event had been intended to let residents compost leftover pumpkins instead of sending them to the landfill. Organizers encourage residents to place pumpkins and other food waste in their green organics carts for collection.
