{"id":18075,"date":"2016-04-23T13:42:44","date_gmt":"2016-04-23T13:42:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.impactmania.com\/im\/24th-district-congressional-candidate-salud-carbajal\/"},"modified":"2025-11-17T13:48:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T13:48:57","slug":"24th-district-congressional-candidate-salud-carbajal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.impactmania.com\/im\/24th-district-congressional-candidate-salud-carbajal\/","title":{"rendered":"24th District Congressional Candidate: Salud Carbajal"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/h1>\n
\"Salud

Salud Carbajal<\/p><\/div>\n

24th District Congressional Candidate: Salud Carbajal<\/h1>\n

BY MELISSA WALKER<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n

Five candidates who are vying for the 24th District Congressional seat that will be vacated by Lois Capps<\/strong><\/a> in November, spoke with impactmania<\/a><\/strong><\/em> about their experience, goals and impact maker.<\/p>\n

Salud Carbajal<\/strong><\/a> is the current First District Supervisor of Santa Barbara County.<\/p>\n

[This article is one in a series with four other candidates who are running for the 24th District Congressional seat.]<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Why are you running for congress? <\/strong><\/p>\n

I grew up in public housing and worked my way through UC Santa Barbara<\/a><\/strong> with a young wife and daughter. Our community has given me the opportunity to get ahead and make something of my life, and I want to make sure every family in the Central Coast has those same opportunities.<\/p>\n

But I know if we\u2019re going to get anything done in Washington, we need to send people who can work together to solve problems.<\/p>\n

As a Santa Barbara County Supervisor, I\u2019ve brought Republicans and Democrats together to preserve our natural environment, expand health insurance for our kids and invest in our highways and roads to create jobs and maintain our quality of life.<\/p>\n

I believe that\u2019s the kind of leadership we need in Congress today.<\/p>\n

\"Salud

Salud Carbajal, second from left, with son Michael, wife Gina, son-in-law Anthony, and daughter, Natasha.<\/p><\/div>\n

Do you have expertise in a particular area that you think would benefit the citizens of the 24th District? <\/strong><\/p>\n

For the last 12 years as a Santa Barbara County Supervisor, I\u2019ve strived to work across party lines to build consensus and develop solutions to address many issues facing our community.<\/p>\n

What our Country needs and our community needs in Washington are representatives who can work together to solve problems. I\u2019ve worked with my Republican and Democratic colleagues in a bipartisan fashion to expand health insurance to 14,000 county children; invested in widening Highway 101<\/strong><\/a> and other roads projects to reduce congestion; and protected funding for law enforcement to keep our communities safe, even during tough economic times.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve done that while using your tax dollars wisely \u2013 balancing the budget every year, building up the largest rainy day fund in County history, and earning one of the highest bond ratings in the state.<\/p>\n

\"Salud

Salud Carbajal at the podium<\/p><\/div>\n

If you are elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your first term in office?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Congress, I\u2019ll bring that same bipartisan spirit to tackling big issues: bringing down the cost of college; protecting our environment; creating new jobs by supporting small businesses and renewable energy; defeating ISIS; passing comprehensive immigration reform; reducing gun violence; and standing up for women\u2019s rights and health care access.<\/p>\n

Polls indicate that most voters don\u2019t think the government works. What would you do to fix the underlying structures and systems that are flawed?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gridlock, ideology and partisanship have severely damaged our national political system to the degree that many people say that it is broken beyond repair.<\/p>\n

One person, even one Congressperson can\u2019t change everything. But, as our communities Representative in Congress I can do my part to represent our Central Coast values by bringing a true bi-partisan problem solving approach to Congress.<\/p>\n

What we need in Washington are more people committed to working together to solve problems. I\u2019ve worked with my Republican and Democratic colleagues in a bipartisan fashion on the Board of Supervisors and I will take that same approach in Congress.<\/p>\n

Who is your professional impact maker and what is the most important thing they taught you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Salud

Salud Carbajal and Naomi Schwartz<\/p><\/div>\n

My professional impact maker was former three term Santa Barbara County Supervisor Naomi Schwartz<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Prior to her service on the Board, Naomi was a Coastal Commissioner, District Director for State Senator Gary Hart<\/strong><\/a> and throughout her life was heavily involved in a wide range of nonprofit and community efforts that benefited the entire Santa Barbara community.<\/p>\n

The key lessons that she taught me during my twelve years as her Chief of Staff were to always act with integrity, be a good listener and be inclusive of everyone in our community.<\/p>\n