The race to fill a supervisor’s seat in northern Santa Barbara County will be decided in the general election in November.
Three candidates sought the Fifth District post to replace Steve Lavaganino, who is retiring. Ricardo Valencia leads in preliminary results, with 37% of the vote. The teacher and school board member could face Maribel Aguilera in November. The Santa Maria City Council member received 33% of the vote.
Cory Bantilan, who was Lavaganino’s longtime Chief of Staff, is in third with 29% of the vote. Less than 200 votes separate Aguilera and Bantilan.
Santa Barbara County Second District Supervisor Laura Capps easily won reelection, with 76% of the vote.
In Ventura County, two county supervisors won their reelection bids. Jeff Gorell received 54% of the vote to keep his Second District seat. Janice Parvin kept her Fourth District seat with 74% of the vote.
