Serve on City and County Boards and Commissions.
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Empowering our Members to Serve in Local Governance.
The Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee (SBWPC) remains committed to ensuring that our feminist values are reflected in every level of local government. One of the most effective ways to influence city policy—from housing and childcare to climate change and reproductive justice—is by serving on city and county boards and commissions.
Publicizing these opportunities is a core strategic goal for the SBWPC, as these roles allow women to hold a public voice and develop essential leadership skills. Furthermore, serving on a commission serves as a vital pipeline for potential City Council and Board of Supervisor candidates—individuals who are already attuned to their neighborhood’s needs and understand the inner workings of local government.
Why Your Participation Matters
Local governments across Santa Barbara County rely on numerous boards and commissions to weigh in on development projects, budget proposals, and policy changes before they reach the elected officials. The impact of feminist participation in these spaces is clear:
- Diverse Local Representation: Leaders from Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Carpinteria emphasize that city government must reflect the community it serves. Councilmember Eric Friedman and others actively recruit from diverse backgrounds for this purpose.
- A Proven Leadership Pipeline: Serving on a local planning commission is a proven stepping stone to elected office, as seen with several current and former City Council members across the county.
- County-Wide Mentorship: We are focused on recruiting younger women for appointments to public boards and commissions throughout Santa Barbara County to build the next generation of feminist leaders.
Current Opportunities for Engagement
Most city boards and commissions only require that applicants be “qualified electors” in the city—defined as a U.S. citizen age 18 or older. While some commissions, like the Neighborhood Advisory Council, focus on specific geographic representation, most are open to any eligible resident.
How to Apply
City of Santa Barbara: The City Council typically conducts interviews and makes appointments toward the end of the year, often following a heavy recruitment period in November. In previous cycles, over 100 residents have applied for dozens of vacancies, showing a strong community interest in civic service.
City of Goleta: Service on City Boards, Commissions and Committees is one of the principal means by which citizens can participate in city government and they play a vital role in bringing transparency, change, and growth to the City of Goleta.
City of Carpinteria: Applications are accepted throughout the year and are kept on file to assist in filing an unscheduled vacancy or for the Biennial Recruitment. All terms are 2-year terms and end January 31 every odd year. Appointments are made by the Mayor with the consent of the Council at a public meeting.
County of Santa Barbara: The County of encourages residents to participate in and serve on local regulatory and advisory boards. Hundreds of citizen volunteers constitute approximately 70 boards, commissions and committees. These deliberative bodies assist the County Board of Supervisors in the development of critical policies that impact our quality of life in a myriad of ways including health and human services, land use, parks, public facilities and public safety.
Candidate Development Committee: Are you Ready to Run?
The Candidate Development Committee (CDC) is focused on training and preparing future feminist leaders for elected office and appointed roles. Its core work is identifying potential feminist women candidates and helping them develop essential campaign skills and political knowledge through Candidate Development Workshops.
Connect with the CDC for upcoming candidate and board and commission appointment trainings. The committee is co-chaired by Diana Villanueva and Tish Gainey.
Upcoming Campaign Skills Workshops
Mark your calendars for our critical training workshops designed to give you the essential skills and strategy for a successful campaign:
- Nuts and Bolts Workshop: A foundational session on campaign basics, held via Zoom on July 16, 2026, from 6:30–8:00 PM.
- Media, Messaging, and Money/Run Like a Woman Workshop: A full-day deep dive into strategic campaigning on August 22, 2026, from approximately 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at SB Law School. This workshop will feature insights from local leaders, including Supervisor Laura Capps (fundraising), Candidate Development Co-Chair Tish Gainey, City of Carpinteria Mayor Natalia Alarcon, SBWPC Founding Mother and former Board President Lois Phillips PHD., former Board Member and Goleta City Council Member Luz Reyes-Martin, and former Board Member and former Santa Barbara City College Board Trustee Ana Everett PHD.
Next Steps for Getting Involved:
Review the full list of advisory groups and their current vacancies for each city and county.
- Contact the SBWPC Young Feminist Committee if you are a younger member seeking mentorship in the application process.
For more information on upcoming informational sessions or mixers to discuss leadership opportunities, please sign up for alerts here.
Join us in shaping the future of Santa Barbara County.
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