Santa Maria’s Newest Council Member Hits The Ground Running
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) - We are learning more about Santa Maria’s newest city council member in district one.
Ricardo Batalla was sworn in a week ago, Tuesday, and has ’hit the ground running,’ as the saying goes.
Ricardo “Richard” Batalla is Santa Maria's newest councilman, on the job now for just over a week.
He was appointed after Carlos Escobedo abruptly resigned two months ago.
Batalla was born in Santa Barbara, and moved to Santa Maria at the age of five.
“I grew up in district one on Williams Street,” says Batalla.
His stomping grounds were Oakley Elementary, El Camino Jr. High, and Pioneer Valley High School.
“I had the opportunity to go to the police academy,” says Batalla.
As a child, Batalla says he was a police explorer and his interests have always leaned in that direction.
Shortly after high school he became a father and attended Fresno State University.
“My mother is a big advocate of higher education. So that's why I went straight to Fresno State,” Batalla continues.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Chicano Latin-American Studies.
“I was working at the post office at the age of 23, I was a finance supervisor at a very young age,” Batalla recalls. “I was there for about six years then I transferred to Santa Barbara's post office. And then I left to follow my dream, which was to help the youth.”
Batalla is now the youth development director at the Santa Maria Valley YMCA.
His top priorities as he takes the district one city council seat are rising rent levels, public safety, and a budget deficit of $25 million.
“I was given the oath on Tuesday,” Batalla says. “Wednesday I was there and started going, getting information, pulling data, meeting with people to fully dig into the issues that caused this $25 million debt within the city. And also starting to get to know people. I am going to set up meet and greets, so people can get to know me.”
Batalla says he has the intention of campaigning for continuing service in this November’s election.
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