2022 VOTER GUIDE

State Propositions

- Tribal Sports Betting

Prop 26 would allow betting on sports at Native American tribal casinos.  It would bring new revenue to California schools and public services and Native American tribes, but would expand gambling in our communities which can cause harm to some families impacted by gambling addiction.

- Online Sports Betting

Prop 27 would allow online sports betting and give out-of-state corporations the majority of the profits, which could take away sovereignty from Native American tribes. More youth would be at risk because it is harder to verify age in online gambling.

- Arts/Music in Schools

Prop 28 would guarantee a percentage of existing funds in the California budget go to ensuring schools have arts and music programs, with extra funds for schools with more disadvantaged students.  Creative outlets inspire and motivate students and are an essential part of a young person’s education.

- Dialysis Care

Prop 29 would require basic safety standards for dialysis clinics, like requiring a doctor, nurse, or medical professional on site and reporting data on infections. It also prevents discrimination based on the type of health insurance a patient has to ensure our community gets the quality healthcare we deserve.

- Electric Car Funding

Prop 30 would tax millionaires’ income over $2 million with an additional 1.75%, which would go towards fighting climate change by funding electric cars, trucks, buses, and charging stations, as well as wildfire prevention efforts.  However, some environmental justice groups are concerned the measure does not support public transit, and is being funded by rideshare tech company Lyft.

- Flavored Tobacco Ban

Prop 31 would ban flavored tobacco products such as fruit flavored e-cigarettes.  It is being supported by public health organizations because youth and communities of color are heavily targeted by advertising for harmful flavored tobacco products.

- Reproductive Rights

Prop 1 would protect the right to choose to get an abortion or choose or refuse birth control under California law.  This protects people’s reproductive rights to make difficult decisions about their own bodies and families in California as the Supreme Court takes them away in other states.

Santa Maria

Gloria Soto

for Santa Maria City Council, District 3

Gloria was born and raised in Santa Maria and is the daughter of farmworkers who has devoted her life to nonprofit work to support her community.  As the current councilmember for Southwest Santa Maria, she is working to make housing more affordable, establish a Youth Fund to assist families and their children, and help small businesses thrive.

Osvaldo Sotelo

for Santa Maria Bonita Elementary School District 2

Osvaldo Sotelo is an active Santa Maria community member who devotes his time providing our community with employment opportunities through the nonprofit Goodwill. He will work towards providing more mental health resources for students, supporting interpretation services in both Spanish and Indigenous languages, and encouraging more parent involvement in their children’s academics.

Feliciano Aguilar

for Santa Maria Joint Union High School District 2

Feliciano has been working with Santa Maria parents, teachers, and students over the past 15 years as a school psychologist. He will work on making A-G courses available to all students, bettering interpretation services in both Spanish and Indigenous languages, increasing parent engagement, and having nutritious meals for students.

Diana Perez

for Santa Maria Joint Union High School District 4

Diana has served the community for years advocating for students’ needs and making the pathway to college more accessible and affordable. She intends to advocate for the construction of a new high school, bike paths for students to bike to school, and supporting students in their path for college qualifications and admission.

Gregg Hart

for the 37th State Assembly District

Gregg served on the Santa Barbara City Council and Santa Barbara County Supervisors, where he was a strong voice for affordable housing, renters rights, reforming the criminal justice system, and immigrant rights.  In the state assembly, he will work to support farmworkers and environmental health.

Salud Carbajal

for the 24th Congressional District

Salud immigrated to the US at five years old and worked with his family in the fields growing up in Oxnard, before going on to get his Masters Degree. As our congressmember, he has taken strong stances for our community including raising wages for workers, providing healthcare for all, and defending immigrant rights.

Santa Barbara

Gabe Escobedo

for Santa Barbara Unified School District 1

Gabe Escobedo comes from working over a decade in higher education, currently working in Student Affairs at UC Santa Barbara.  Gabe serves as the Chair of the City of Santa Barbara Planning Commission, advocating for affordable housing. In addition, Gabe is the Chair of the Community Formation Commission, tasked with developing a recommendation on civilian oversight of the Santa Barbara Police Department

Rose Muñoz

for Santa Barbara Unified School District 4

Rose Muñoz has been a longtime grassroots leader with CAUSE and through her first term in the School Board, has utilized her bilingual and bicultural experience to push for equity and inclusion in the Santa Barbara School District. 

Gregg Hart

for the 37th Assembly District

Gregg served on the Santa Barbara City Council and Santa Barbara County Supervisors, where he was a strong voice for affordable housing, renters rights, reforming the criminal justice system, and immigrant rights.  In the state assembly, he will work to support farmworkers and environmental health.

Salud Carbajal

for the 24th Congressional District

Salud immigrated to the US at five years old and worked with his family in the fields growing up in Oxnard, before going on to get his Masters Degree. As our congressmember, he has taken strong stances for our community including raising wages for workers, providing healthcare for all, and defending immigrant rights.

Goleta

Luz Reyez-Martín

for Goleta City Council, District 1

Luz Reyez-Martin is a proud parent, who for the last eight years represented Goleta and Isla Vista on the Goleta Union School District Board. In addition, Luz Reyez-Martin is a nonprofit executive with a Masters Degree in Land Use Planning, who will use these tools to connect with the needs of the community. 

James Kyriaco

for Goleta City Council District 2

James Kyriaco has over 20 years of experience as a local nonprofit leader, and as a community volunteer serving on both city and county appointed boards and commissions. As a council member, James has worked to preserve and protect our environment and open spaces, increase access to affordable and workforce housing and childcare, and prioritized keeping our community safe and healthy for all of us.

Gregg Hart

for the 37th Assembly District

Gregg served on the Santa Barbara City Council and Santa Barbara County Supervisors, where he was a strong voice for affordable housing, renters rights, reforming the criminal justice system, and immigrant rights.  In the state assembly, he will work to support farmworkers and environmental health.

Salud Carbajal

for the 24th Congressional District

Salud immigrated to the US at five years old and worked with his family in the fields growing up in Oxnard, before going on to get his Masters Degree. As our congressmember, he has taken strong stances for our community including raising wages for workers, providing healthcare for all, and defending immigrant rights.

Ventura

Liz Campos

for Ventura City Council District 1

Liz Campos is a community leader who has lived in and served our neighborhood for many years, helping lead local organizations like the Westside Community Council, Westside Clean Air Coalition, and Manos Unidas. Liz is a strong voice for the Westside of Ventura who will fight for affordable housing and a healthy environment for our community.

Lorrie Brown

for Ventura City Council District 6

Lorrie Brown grew up in Montalvo and has dedicated her life to public service in education, housing, and community development.  As the current council member for District 6, she has been a strong advocate for tenant & housing protections for Ventura residents.

James Forsythe

for Ventura Unified School District 1

James Forsythe is a local middle school education specialist and father. James will work to improve student safety and education access for all students.  He will fight to bring more resources to our families on the Westside, including mental health resources for our youth, and parent engagement for Spanish speaking families.

Steve Bennett

for the 38th Assembly District

Steve began his career as an economics teacher and served for years on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, where he worked to stop pollution and promote a healthy environment, reform campaign laws to get money out of politics, and expand resources for farmworkers. As our State Assemblymember, he has been a strong voice for immigrant rights, environmental health, and working families.

Salud Carbajal

for the 24th Congressional District

Salud immigrated to the US at five years old and worked with his family in the fields growing up in Oxnard, before going on to get his Masters Degree. As our congressmember, he has taken strong stances for our community including raising wages for workers, providing healthcare for all, and defending immigrant rights.

Oxnard

Gabe Teran

for Oxnard City Council, District 2

Gabe Teran is the current city councilmember for District 2 after being an active community leader who engaged Oxnard residents in city issues.  Gabe has been a strong supporter of youth engagement and tenant protections. He will prioritize affordable housing, a healthy environment, and information transparency in the city.

Gabby Basua

for Oxnard Union High School District 5

Gabby Basua has served on Oxnard City Council since 2018, representing District 5. As a Councilmember, Gabby has  strongly advocated for affordable housing and led the effort for Oxnard City Council to adopt a 4% rent cap. Gabby will continue advocating for a healthy environment in South Oxnard, including cleaning up toxic sites, reducing industrial pollution, and creating more green spaces.

Karen Sher

for Oxnard Union School District 3

Karen Sher is a current school board member who has led efforts towards equity, access, and inclusion within the District. She has successfully fought for more mental health resources and better nutritional services for students. She was a strong voice for voter registration on campuses and including ethnic studies and A-G college readiness as graduation requirements. 

Genevieve Flores-Haro

for Oxnard Union High School District 4

Genevieve Flores-Haro is the Assistant Director of the Mixteco/Indigena Project (MICOP) and serves on the board of the Diversity Collective Ventura County. She is a strong advocate for communities facing language barriers, immigrant families, and LGBTQ youth. She will advocate for stronger community input, for the expansion of mental health resources for youth, and to address the needs of all students. 

Steve Bennett

for the 38th State Assembly District

Steve began his career as an economics teacher and served for years on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, where he worked to stop pollution and promote a healthy environment, reform campaign laws to get money out of politics, and expand resources for farmworkers. As our State Assemblymember, he has been a strong voice for immigrant rights, environmental health, and working families.

Julia Brownley

for the 26th Congressional District

Julia began as a school board member and served in the state legislature, where she worked to promote quality public schools and a healthy environment. As our congressmember, she has stood up for immigrant rights and worked to make college and healthcare more affordable.

Santa Paula

Pedro Chavez

for Santa Paula City Council

Pedro Chavez is a first generation immigrant. He has  lived and worked in Ventura County and is currently serving as a planning commissioner for the city of Santa Paula. As a councilmember he will work to make Santa Paula’s streets safer and more walkable and support protections for renters and more affordable housing.

Jeri Mead

for Santa Paula Unified School Board District 1

Jeri Mead has been a long time educator and working in school administration. During her time as a school board member she has worked with community members to make crosswalks safer for students and families. Her priorities include improving parent engagement and ensuring students have a safe and healthy environment to learn in. 

Steve Bennett

for the 38th Assembly District

Steve began his career as an economics teacher and served for years on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, where he worked to stop pollution and promote a healthy environment, reform campaign laws to get money out of politics, and expand resources for farmworkers. As our State Assemblymember, he has been a strong voice for immigrant rights, environmental health, and working families.

Julia Brownley

for the 26th Congressional District

Julia began as a school board member and served in the state legislature, where she worked to promote quality public schools and a healthy environment. As our congressmember, she has stood up for immigrant rights and worked to make college and healthcare more affordable.

Your voice needs to be heard.