Santa Maria City Council District 3 · Nov 3, 2026
Gloria Soto
Candidate for City Council District 3 (incumbent)
Gloria Soto, the incumbent, is running for Santa Maria City Council District 3 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Corby Poulis Sr..
Vote-by-mail ballots mailed to all eligible voters (Oct. 5 to Oct. 27) · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
Today- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Incumbent
- Campaign website
- voteforgloriasoto.com
Where Gloria Soto stands: positions on the record
Measure C sales tax2 sourced positions
Ballot argument signed jointly by Mayor Alice Patino and Councilmembers Gloria Flores, Maribel Aguilera, Richard Batalla and Gloria Soto
Signed the official ballot argument in favor of Measure C, the half-cent sales tax.
“Ultimately, a vote for Measure C is a vote to support our Community!”
Own statementArgument in Favor of Measure C2026 (City of Santa Maria)
Voted yes on calling the Nov. 3 election, including putting the half-cent sales tax question on the ballot (passed 4-0, June 2026).
Council voteSanta Maria City Council minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026
City budget2 sourced positions
Voted yes on adopting the two-year budget for fiscal years 2026-27 and 2027-28 (passed 4-0, June 2026).
Council voteSanta Maria City Council minutes, June 16, 2026 · Jun 16, 2026
Says the city should not balance its budget at city employees' expense.
“it's important and critical that we don't balance the budget on the backs of the employees who keep city services running on a daily basis.”
Own statementKEYT · Sep 30, 2026
Council pay3 sourced positions
Voted no on introducing an ordinance raising City Council pay by $341.31 a month (passed 3-2, Aug. 2026).
Council voteSanta Maria City Council minutes, Aug. 4, 2026 · Aug 4, 2026
Voted no on adopting the ordinance raising City Council pay by $341.31 a month (passed 4-1, Sept. 2026).
Council voteSanta Maria City Council minutes, Sept. 1, 2026 · Sep 1, 2026
Opposed the council pay raise while the city asks employee groups to accept budget limits.
“At the moment, as we're having these conversations with employee groups where we're asking them to understand the state of our city budget, I just in good faith, cannot support this”
Own statementKEYT · Aug 7, 2026
Immigration2 sourced positions
Voted yes on forming an Immigration Ad Hoc Committee (failed 2-2, March 2026).
Council voteSanta Maria City Council minutes, March 3, 2026 · Mar 3, 2026
Voted no on a resolution expressing support for immigrant residents of Santa Maria (passed 4-1, Feb. 2026).
Council voteSanta Maria City Council minutes, Feb. 3, 2026 · Feb 3, 2026
District 1 appointment1 sourced position
Voted no on appointing Ricardo Batalla to the vacant District 1 seat (passed 3-1, April 2026).
Council voteSanta Maria City Council minutes, April 7, 2026 · Apr 7, 2026
Aquatic center1 sourced position
Voted yes on leaving the proposed pool closure out of that night's budget discussion (passed 5-0, June 2026).
Council voteSanta Maria City Council minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026
Housing and growth2 sourced positions
Voted yes on adopting the Santa Maria 2045 General Plan update and its environmental impact report (passed 5-0, May 2026).
Council voteSanta Maria City Council minutes, May 5, 2026 · May 5, 2026
Says she will push for renter protections and more affordable housing.
“I’ll keep fighting for policies that protect renters, expand affordable housing, and stop working families from being priced out of the community they helped build.”
Own statementGloria Soto campaign site
What Gloria Soto said vs. how Gloria Soto voted
Council pay
In their words
Opposed the council pay raise while the city asks employee groups to accept budget limits.
Aug 7, 2026 ·KEYT · Aug 7, 2026
On the record
Voted no on introducing an ordinance raising City Council pay by $341.31 a month (passed 3-2, Aug. 2026).
Aug 4, 2026 ·Santa Maria City Council minutes, Aug. 4, 2026 · Aug 4, 2026
Voted no on adopting the ordinance raising City Council pay by $341.31 a month (passed 4-1, Sept. 2026).
Sep 1, 2026 ·Santa Maria City Council minutes, Sept. 1, 2026 · Sep 1, 2026
Housing and growth
In their words
Says she will push for renter protections and more affordable housing.
On the record
Voted yes on adopting the Santa Maria 2045 General Plan update and its environmental impact report (passed 5-0, May 2026).
May 5, 2026 ·Santa Maria City Council minutes, May 5, 2026 · May 5, 2026
Also running for City Council District 3
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