Osvaldo Sotelo
Santa Maria City Council - District 1
| Website: | osvaldofordistrict1.com |
| Facebook: | Osvaldo Sotelo for District 1 |
| Other: | Instagram: osvaldo_sotelo_for_district_1 |
| Why are you running for office?: | My name is Osvaldo Sotelo and I am a proud lifelong Santa Marian! I’m a local leader and currently work as a nonprofit manager in our community where I have developed extensive knowledge of important issues our city faces and where I can make a difference for our residents. As a person who attended local schools, and worked with my immigrant farmworker parents in the fields, I am eager to work to improve our quality of life by addressing affordability issues, creating living wage jobs and expanding opportunities for our youth. During these challenging fiscal times, my experience managing budgets, long-range planning while listening and work collaboratively with our residents and stakeholders make me well prepared to serve on behalf of our community. While earning my MPA and Workforce Development credential I gained skills that will allow me to foster communication, creatively evaluate unique opportunities for working families and make Santa Maria work and be responsive to ALL residents. I will work on your behalf for the community that I love, and pledge to be accessible and reach out to keep residents informed and involved in City business. This campaign is strictly for my community. |
| What makes you qualified for the job?: | I am the only candidate in District 1 who was born and raised in Santa Maria. I attended local public schools in Santa Maria and graduated from Pioneer Valley High School. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Law and Society in 2014. I then returned to Santa Maria in 2014 because I felt the need to give back to my community. In 2016, I received my master’s degree in Public Administration and currently working on a Workforce Development Apprenticeship Program. I am a lifelong resident of the North-West side of town, which is District 1. A lot of my family, friends, and colleagues live in district 1 and support my candidacy. As a committee member of the Workforce Development Job Fair Committee, I work on conducting job fairs throughout Santa Barbara County to connect youth to job opportunities. In this capacity, I have learned that many youths need assistance with job readiness skills to get and retain a job. There is a need for youth educational programs to help prepare the next generation of our workforce. I currently work as a Workforce Educator at Goodwill, where I focus on connecting youth and adults to employment opportunities. A big part of my job is to oversee major grants we have received and manage budgets. My best qualification is the strong connection I have to my community. I live, see, and hear the needs of District 1 every day, and will work tirelessly to address them if elected. |
| What are your two main priorities if you win?: | HOUSING: My lived experience has inspired me to make affordable housing a key focus of my candidacy. In Santa Maria, homelessness and the housing crisis are both critical problems, and they affect families and children throughout our city. LIVING WAGE JOBS: As a professional who works for Goodwill Industries of VTA SB Counties as a Non-profit Educator, I know the challenges that many of our residents face when seeking employment opportunities. EDUCATIONAL AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH: As a professional who works for Goodwill finding a good paying job can be a challenge. We need more programs that support our youth leadership development. When we provide opportunities to our youth--through job training, internships, apprenticeships or recreational programs, we invest in a future that is better for all Santa Marians, especially young Santa Marians. |
| How will you interact with other governments?: | We need to work collaboratively with other governments to bring more grants to our city. We need to have open dialogue with other governments in order to bring the best to our city. |
| What are your plans to help overcome COVID-19?: | We need to establish a strategic plan and make sure the plans for COVID-19 are inclusive. We need to look at our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. We need to make sure we are promoting a safe recovery looking at it from a monolingual, bilingual and even a trilingual point of view. We all live together in this city and therefore everyone needs to be included. |
| Which two issues are most important to you?: | HOUSING: My lived experience has inspired me to make affordable housing a key focus of my candidacy. In Santa Maria, homelessness and the housing crisis are both critical problems, and they affect families and children throughout our city. LIVING WAGE JOBS: As a professional who works for Goodwill Industries of VTA SB Counties as a Non-profit Educator, I know the challenges that many of our residents face when seeking employment opportunities. EDUCATIONAL AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH: As a professional who works for Goodwill finding a good paying job can be a challenge. We need more programs that support our youth leadership development. When we provide opportunities to our youth--through job training, internships, apprenticeships or recreational programs, we invest in a future that is better for all Santa Marians, especially young Santa Marians. |
