Oscar Zavala Will Seek Santa Barbara City College Seat

The former counselor is running for the Trustee Area 7 seat in the November 3 election.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Administration

Vector editorial illustration of classic spectacles on a wooden table with coastal sage, representing a focus on academic experience. — Former counselor Oscar Zavala is running for the Trustee Area 7 seat on the Santa Barbara City College Board of Trustees this November. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Retired Santa Barbara City College counselor Oscar Zavala is running for a seat on the institution's Board of Trustees. He will appear on the ballot for the Trustee Area 7 position in the election held on November 3.

Why it matters

Zavala aims to bring innovative thinking to the college board, drawing on his 30-year history with the institution and the Mesa neighborhood. He is positioning his candidacy as a veteran alternative to current administrative trends.

Oscar Zavala, 71, is self-funding his campaign with a strict $2,000 spending cap to avoid complex finance filings. His professional background includes 30 years of employment at the college and past roles as a department chair.

The players

Oscar Zavala

He is a 71-year-old retired counselor and former chair of the Counseling Department at Santa Barbara City College.

Santa Barbara City College

It is a community college with a main campus located in the Mesa neighborhood of Santa Barbara.

Andrea Varon

She is a candidate for the Board of Trustees who has received an endorsement from the Santa Barbara Democratic Party.

Erika Endrijonas

She serves as the current Superintendent-President of Santa Barbara City College.

The details

Zavala is centering his platform on his long-term connection to the Mesa campus and the college's history. He is intentionally limiting his campaign expenditures to keep his financial filings simple as he campaigns for the area 7 seat.

2016 marked the start of a churn that saw five separate CEOs at the college.
Oscar Zavala retired from his role at the college in 2018.
Voters approved the $198 million Prop. P facilities bond in 2024.
Zavala attended a college board meeting in September 2026.
The election for the Board of Trustees occurs on November 3, 2026.

Roadmap

The race follows the 2024 approval of the $198 million Prop. P facilities bond, which set the college's current capital improvement trajectory. This election occurs against a backdrop of administrative instability that has seen five CEOs pass through the institution since 2016.

The outcome of this election will directly influence the oversight of the $198 million Prop. P facilities bond projects at the Mesa campus. Voters in Trustee Area 7 will determine who represents their interests in managing the college's administrative and budgetary future.

The takeaway

Zavala is running a low-cost, self-funded campaign that signals a focus on institutional experience over traditional fundraising. His candidacy highlights the importance of trustee oversight during a period of significant bond-funded construction.