Ricardo Valencia
Candidate for Santa Barbara County Supervisorial District 5
Ricardo Valencia is a high school teacher. He also sits on a Santa Maria-area school board. He is running for county supervisor, Santa Barbara District 5. This is a nonpartisan office. The Santa Barbara Independent reports he grew up in Guadalupe. He later moved to Santa Maria. He is the child of undocumented immigrants. He has said teachers helped him. They steered him away from substance use. This was when he was young. In the June 2026 primary, Valencia placed first in a three-candidate field with 41.87% of the vote in the certified results, 879 votes ahead of the runner-up, Maribel Aguilera, who took 31.15%. She serves on the Santa Maria City Council. She is also a real estate attorney. No candidate won a majority. Valencia and Aguilera advance to a November 2026 runoff. They are running for the same seat. It is held by Supervisor Steve Lavagnino. He has served 16 years. He is stepping down. The Independent's coverage described District 5. It called the district an area with long-standing low voter turnout. The Santa Barbara Independent covered the election on June 13, 2026. It called Valencia "an outspoken, left-leaning progressive" and "a diehard Democrat." The Board of Supervisors is officially a nonpartisan office. It carries no party label on the ballot. No source has yet confirmed his specific policy positions. This includes a campaign platform document, a candidate website statement, or another source.
Positions in brief
Ricardo Valencia teaches high school in Santa Maria. He also sits on a school board there. He placed first in the June 2026 primary. It was for Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, District 5.
On the issues
- Housing & Homelessness
Wants to build more housing and champion mixed-income developments, and to strengthen renter protections and hold negligent landlords accountable.
“Expand Affordable and Workforce Housing: Build more housing; champion mixed-income developments.”
Source → - Family & Social Services
Wants to partner with local providers to increase affordable childcare options.
“Expand Access to Quality Childcare: Partner with local providers to increase affordable childcare options.”
Source → - Immigration & Border
Supports fair and humane immigration practices that protect workers, and says county resources should not be used to collaborate with ICE.
“Support Immigrant Communities: Advocate for fair and humane immigration practices that protect workers.”
Source → - Economy & Jobs
Wants to partner schools, colleges, and employers to build a workforce pipeline for youth, close the local income and opportunity gap through higher wages and job training, and invest in small businesses with expanded access to capital and mentorship.
“Close the Income and Opportunity Gap: Promote policies that raise local wages, expand job training.”
Source → - Environment, Energy & Climate
Supports renewable energy, water conservation, and local wildfire-risk reduction, and backs a clean-energy transition that creates good-paying jobs.
“Advance Climate Resilience: Support renewable energy, water conservation, and local efforts to reduce wildfire risk.”
Source →
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