August 29, 2022
Local Democratic Party Chair Darcel Elliott announced the endorsements of 24 candidates for local offices. This is the single largest number of candidates the Democratic Party has endorsed in a Midterm election, and candidates are running in every city and community in Santa Barbara County.
“At this crucial turning point in our nation’s history, we need elected leaders at every level of government that will stand up for Democratic priorities – like abortion rights, fighting climate change, and housing affordability” said Democratic Party Chair Darcél Elliott.
Over half of Democratic Party-endorsed candidates are running for School Boards. Endorsed candidates are proven education champions, with backgrounds including teachers, professors, psychologists, college admissions counselors, and social workers.
“Conservative Republicans that don’t believe in sex education or science are trying to take over our local school boards and impose their radical agenda on our kids. Now is the time for voters to pay attention to school board races in our local community, and vote for experienced champions of public education,” said Democratic Party Chair Darcél Elliott.
Today’s announcement follows the endorsement of Gloria Soto for Santa Maria City Council and Luz Reyes-Martín and James Kyriaco for Goleta City Council.
A full list of endorsed candidates is available below:
- Salud Carbajal – U.S. Congress, 24th District
- Gregg Hart – State Assembly, 37th District
- Elysia Lewis – Buellton Mayor
- David Silva – Buellton City Council, District 4
- Monica Solorzano – Carpinteria City Council, District 1
- Al Clark – Carpinteria City Council, District 5
- Luz Reyes-Martín – Goleta City Council, District 1
- James Kyriaco – Goleta City Council, District 2
- Gloria Soto – Santa Maria City Council, District 3
- Marybeth Carty – Santa Barbara County Board of Education, Trustee, Area 1
- Judy Frost – Santa Barbara County Board of Education, Trustee, Area 5
- Peter Wright – College School District Board, Trustee, Area 5
- Richard Mayer – Goleta Union School District Board, Trustee, Area 1
- Emily Zacarias – Goleta Union School District Board, Trustee, Area 3
- Ethan Bertrand – Goleta Union School District Board, Trustee, Area 5
- Gabe Escobedo – Santa Barbara Unified School District Board, Trustee, Area 1
- Rose Muñoz – Santa Barbara Unified School District Board, Trustee, Area 4
- Osvaldo Sotelo – Santa Maria-Bonita District Board, Trustee, Area 2
- Diana Perez – Santa Maria Joint Union HS District Board, Trustee, Area 4
- Feliciano Aguilar – Santa Maria Joint Union HS District Board, Trustee, Area 2
- Denise El Amin – Santa Ynez Valley Union HS District Board, Trustee, Area 2
- Charlotte Gullap-Moore – Santa Barbara City College, Trustee, Area 1
- Jonathan Abboud – Santa Barbara City College, Trustee, Area 6
- Kathleen Werner – Goleta Water District, Director, Area 2
- Olivia Craig – Isla Vista Community Services District Board, 2 Year
- Spencer Brandt – Isla Vista Community Services District Board, 4 Year
Election Day for the Midterm General Election is November 8. All voters will be mailed a vote-by-mail ballot by the week of October 11. The deadline to register to vote is October 24.
The Santa Barbara County Democratic Party endorses candidates running for County, City, and local office based on their alignment with Democratic values, expressed in the local Democratic Party Platform, including social, economic, and environmental justice.
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