2026 Special Election for the Santa Barbara County Board of Retirement
On March 13, 2026, the Safety Seventh Member seat on the Board of Retirement became vacant. Accordingly, a special election is being held to fill this vacancy.
WHO CAN RUN FOR THIS VACANCY?
Active Safety members from the Sheriff’s Office or the Probation Department may file for this vacancy. Members of the Fire Department may not run because the current Alternate Safety Seventh Trustee is from the Fire Department, and per Government Code Section 31523(a), the Seventh Member seat must be filled by a member of a different Safety class than the alternate—however, Fire Department members can vote.
WHO CAN VOTE IN THIS ELECTION?
All active Safety members—including those from the Fire Department—may vote in this election.
KEY DATES
Nomination Petition Deadline: Monday, May 4, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.
Candidate Statement Review Period: Tuesday, May 5, 2026 – Monday, May 18, 2026
Voting Period: Tuesday, June 2, 2026 – Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time
Results Announced: Wednesday, July 1, 2026
HOW TO RUN
All candidates must submit a Petition of Nomination and Declaration of Candidacy. Petitions are available online at https://www.sbcers.org/wp-content/uploads/Safety-Special-Election-Nomination-Packet_Fillable.pdf and at SBCERS offices upon request:
130 Robin Hill Road, Suite 100, Goleta, CA 93117
2236 South Broadway, Suite D, Santa Maria, CA 93454
The petition must include the nominee’s name, a certification of willingness to serve, and signatures from at least 15—but no more than 25—active Safety members. Wet signatures, electronic signatures, or a combination of both are accepted.
Nomination petitions and candidate statements must be returned to any SBCERS office no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026.
Candidate statements will be available for public review from Tuesday, May 5 through Monday, May 18, 2026, online at www.sbcers.org/board-elections/ and at SBCERS offices. During this period, any member qualified to vote may seek an injunction to amend or remove any statement that is false, misleading, or inconsistent with filing requirements.
HOW TO VOTE
Eligible voters will receive login credentials and voting instructions by email before the start of the voting period. Votes may be cast online beginning Tuesday, June 2, 2026, through Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. The online voting system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the voting period.
WHEN WILL VOTES BE COUNTED?
The votes will be counted and announced on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
WHAT IS THE BOARD OF RETIREMENT?
The Board of Retirement has complete responsibility for administering the Santa Barbara County Employees’ Retirement System, including oversight of approximately $5 billion in trust assets, establishing actuarial rates and assumptions, and granting service retirements, disability pensions, and other benefits.
The Board consists of nine voting members and two alternate voting members. All Board members serve three-year terms, except the Treasurer-Tax Collector, who serves as the Ex-Officio member for as long as they hold that elected office. The seat up for election is in bold:
No. 1 – Permanent Ex-Officio Member (County Treasurer)
No. 2 – Elected by General Members
No. 3 – Elected by General Members
No. 4 – Appointed by the Board of Supervisors
No. 5 – Appointed by the Board of Supervisors
No. 6 – Appointed by the Board of Supervisors
No. 7 – Elected by Safety Members
No. 7A (Alternate) – Elected by Safety Members
No. 8 – Elected by Retired Members
No. 8A (Alternate) – Elected by Retired Members
No. 9 – Appointed by the Board of Supervisors
General Members of the Board represent active General employees, Safety Members of the Board represent active Safety employees, and Retired Members of the Board represent the System’s retirees. The Board of Retirement also includes non-SBCERS members, who are appointed by the Board of Supervisors to represent the County’s taxpayers. Two seats on the Board of Retirement are held for the Treasurer-Tax Collector and a member of the Board of Supervisors.
WHEN DOES THE BOARD OF RETIREMENT MEET?
Regularly scheduled Board meetings are generally held at 9:00 a.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month, except March and November (third Wednesday) and December (second Wednesday). Meetings typically last 5–6 hours, and additional special meetings may occur as needed. Trustees should expect to spend 4–8 hours preparing for each meeting and are expected to attend training sessions and workshops throughout the year. All Board members are required to complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years.