Ricardo "Richard" Batalla
CA · Member, Santa Maria City Council, District 1
Richard Batalla was appointed to the Santa Maria City Council in April 2026 and works as youth development director at the Santa Maria YMCA, with a background in special education. His priorities are supporting young people, affordable housing, and public safety.
Where Ricardo "Richard" Batalla stands, based on their records
Supports
Housing Affordability (1 record)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (1 support · 2 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 support · 2 oppose
Voted yes on final adoption of the council pay raise of $341.31 a month, starting December 2026; it passed 4-1.
September 1, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: pub-santamaria.escribemeetings.com
Made the motion to create a zoning overlay to protect senior mobile home parks in Santa Maria; it passed unanimously. The same night, he voted no on raising City Council pay by $341.31 a month; the raise moved ahead 3-2.
August 4, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: pub-santamaria.escribemeetings.com
Seconded and voted yes on Santa Maria's two-year city budget for 2026-2028; it passed 4-0. The same night, he voted yes to move ahead with renaming Cesar E. Chavez Drive after community input; that also passed 4-0.
June 16, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: pub-santamaria.escribemeetings.com
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 support
Made the motion to create a zoning overlay to protect senior mobile home parks in Santa Maria; it passed unanimously. The same night, he voted no on raising City Council pay by $341.31 a month; the raise moved ahead 3-2.
August 4, 2026Supports Housing Affordability
Source: pub-santamaria.escribemeetings.com
Track record — General
General · 2 records
Seconded and voted yes on Santa Maria's two-year city budget for 2026-2028; it passed 4-0. The same night, he voted yes to move ahead with renaming Cesar E. Chavez Drive after community input; that also passed 4-0.
June 16, 2026
Source: pub-santamaria.escribemeetings.com
Was appointed by the Santa Maria City Council to the empty District 1 seat on a 3-1 vote, with Councilmember Gloria Soto voting no, and was sworn in the same night.
April 7, 2026
Source: pub-santamaria.escribemeetings.com
Past race Ricardo "Richard" Batalla ran in:
- Member of the City Council, District 1 - Short Term · November 3, 2026 · Santa Maria city, California · incumbent