By Jorge Mercado Sunday, October 18th, 2026

Amid the nonstop coverage of the midterm race for control of the House and Senate, plus the coverage of races for governor and LA mayor, it’s easy to overlook the importance of local elections on Nov. 3.

Mail ballots are already in the hands of many voters, which means the process of citizens exercising their civic duty has begun.

Looking across the region, no statewide measure looms larger than Proposition 45, which we’ve endorsed on these pages. Loosening some of the most draconian restrictions of CEQA gives the Central Coast a path to rebalancing the supply and demand equation for housing. 

It also gives the new generation a better shot at homeownership — with a potential supply of choices that’s more like what their parents experienced.

In Santa Barbara, a city that’s sorely in need of strong leadership, there’s a mayoral election that could be the best opportunity for a revival of the struggling retailers and restaurants on State Street.

From ballot issues for schools to school boards to a race for an open congressional seat in Ventura County, this election really does matter.

The deadline for registering to vote is fast approaching and with more scrutiny being paid to ballots, it is a good idea to check your own registration. You can check with your county elections office or the California Secretary of State.

When it comes to registering and voting, we’ll borrow three words from Nike: “Just Do It.”

CANINES TO THE RESCUE

Once again, the National Search Dog Foundation has been called upon to help out in a major disaster. Two SDF-trained teams, Jeremy DeMott and Chirp and Trinity Maurer and Goldie, based out of Virginia, have been sent to rescue efforts across regions affected by Tropical Storm Isaias. 

The teams have been staged near the western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee border to rescue potential flooding victims.

Based in unincorporated Ventura County between Santa Paula and Ojai, the Search Dog Foundation is an important element of the nation’s disaster response programming. Its training facility in Ventura County simulates a wide range of disaster scenarios and gives each human-canine team a unique opportunity to work through the most difficult rescues.

We appreciate their efforts as the first signs of a Super El Niño cycle are beginning to appear. 

BOLD VISION FOR SEEAG

We will finish with a shoutout to SEEAG and the progress being made at its Southbank Learning Farm, now moving rapidly from dream to reality.

The project recently took delivery of three 40-foot shipping containers, a project supported by AgWest Farm Credit. Chris, a fourth-year student at CSU Channel Islands, has become a valuable volunteer.

Southbank Learning Center staff have been working closely with the Ventura County Probation Office to develop programs that could prove to be life-changing for youths.

SEEAG operates in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties with a focus on introducing students to the importance of farming. 

We applaud the SEEAG team for expanding its vision to serving youths who are often overlooked when we think about farmers of the future.