Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Santa Maria City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

3 contests

7 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council District 1 · 1 seat

Ricardo BatallaIncumbentYouth development director for the Santa Maria Valley YMCA, appointed to the District 1 council seat in April 2026. He has also worked as a special education teacher and a financial supervisor for the U.S. Postal Service.8sourced
Celest MendozaProgram manager in workforce development at Goodwill Industries, where she has worked for five years. She also serves on the board of the Lompoc Teen Center.3sourced
Gary Janek MichaelsPresident of E-rate Compass, a consultancy he launched in 2017 that helps schools secure federal funding. He previously worked for Comcast Cable and Time Warner Cable.7sourced

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

City Council District 4 · 1 seat

Only voters in Districts 1, 3 and 4 elect a councilmember this year, one per district. The District 1 winner serves the rest of a term ending in November 2028.

2 notes on these statements

Ricardo Batalla was appointed to the District 1 seat in April 2026 after Carlos Escobedo resigned; the District 1 winner serves the rest of the term. Noozhawk · Aug 18, 2026

District 4 has no incumbent on the ballot: Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez is running for county supervisor instead. Santa Maria Times · Aug 26, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Gloria FloresCouncilmember, District 2; term expires 202810sourced Alice PatinoMayor (votes on the council); term expires 202810sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesBudget deficit and Measure C, Paul Nelson Aquatic Center, Immigration ad hoc committee Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Vote-by-mail ballots mailed to all eligible voters (Oct. 5 to Oct. 27)

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Budget deficit and Measure C

Where it standsThe council adopted a two-year budget in June 2026 after cuts and asked voters to approve Measure C, a half-cent sales tax.

What's on the tableWhich services to fund, restore or cut, depending on whether Measure C passes.

The proposed two-year budget attempted to close a shortfall identified as $25.1 million. Noozhawk · Jun 3, 2026
Measure C would raise the local sales tax rate from 8.75% to 9.25%. City of Santa Maria
Measure C is estimated to provide about $13 million a year in local funding for general city purposes. City Attorney's Impartial Analysis of Measure C2026
The city says it eliminated or froze 60 full-time positions and cut limited-service staff hours, saving about $12 million. City of Santa Maria

Paul Nelson Aquatic Center

Where it standsA budget proposal to close the city pool six months a year was set aside in June 2026 while the city looked for alternatives.

What's on the tableWhether to keep the pool open year-round and how to pay for it.

The proposed six-month closure, from December through May, would have saved $344,000. Noozhawk · Jun 3, 2026
The council voted 5-0 to leave the proposed pool closure out of its June 2 budget discussion. Santa Maria City Council minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026
The city says Measure C funding could help keep the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center open year-round. City of Santa Maria

Immigration ad hoc committee

Where it standsA motion to form an Immigration Ad Hoc Committee failed on a 2-2 vote in March 2026, while the District 1 seat was vacant.

What's on the tableWhether the council takes up an immigration committee or related measures again.

The council adopted a resolution expressing support for immigrant residents on a 4-1 vote in February 2026. Santa Maria City Council minutes, Feb. 3, 2026 · Feb 3, 2026
The motion to form an Immigration Ad Hoc Committee failed 2-2 on March 3, 2026. Santa Maria City Council minutes, March 3, 2026 · Mar 3, 2026

Housing and growth

Where it standsThe council adopted the Santa Maria 2045 General Plan update in May 2026.

What's on the tableHow the city carries out the new General Plan, including where new housing goes.

The council voted 5-0 to adopt the 2045 General Plan update and certify its environmental impact report. Santa Maria City Council minutes, May 5, 2026 · May 5, 2026
Major issues in the District 1 race include community security, facilities for youth activities, and the oversight of low cost housing projects. KEYT · Sep 29, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. Measure C would add a half-cent sales tax for city services such as parks, the library and roads. Where do you stand?
2. How should the city treat its own workforce while closing the budget gap?
3. If money is short, what should happen to the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center?
4. Should the City Council form an immigration ad hoc committee?
5. Where should Santa Maria focus new housing?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Vote-by-mail ballots mailed to all eligible voters (Oct. 5 to Oct. 27)Santa Barbara County ElectionsOct 5, 2026
Last day to register to vote (conditional same-day registration remains available)Santa Barbara County ElectionsOct 19, 2026
Election DaySanta Barbara County ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Gloria Flores, Alice Patino3 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

The City Council has a mayor elected at-large and four councilmembers elected by district, each to a four-year term. City of Santa Maria
Santa Maria uses the Council-Manager form of government: the council sets policy and an appointed City Manager carries it out. City of Santa Maria
The District 1 contest is for an unexpired term ending in November 2028; Districts 3 and 4 are for full four-year terms. City of Santa Maria
The terms of Mayor Alice Patino and Councilmember Gloria Flores do not expire until 2028. Noozhawk · Aug 5, 2026

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