CityofGoleta
By the City of Goleta
The City of Goleta officially has its first two councilmembers elected by district. At the final council meeting of the year, December 20, 2022, the election results were certified followed by a swearing in and oath of office ceremony for Councilmember Luz Reyes-Martín (District 1) and Councilmember James Kyriaco (District 2). The swearing in ceremony was followed by applause from the audience and remarks from the Mayor and Councilmembers.
Councilmember Luz Reyes-Martín, a familiar face to Goleta said, “I am very proud to serve my community as a Goleta City Councilmember. I am looking forward to working with the Mayor and Council, our community, and our regional partners to address important issues facing our City. From my professional background, I have a deep understanding of how city government should work, how it should be accountable to the community, and how essential thoughtful planning is to sustainable communities.”
Councilmember Reyes-Martín served on the Goleta Union School District Board for the past eight years and was the Executive Director of Public Affairs and Communications at Santa Barbara City College. Councilmember Reyes-Martín also worked previously for the City of Goleta as a Neighborhood Services Analyst. She has a master’s degree in land use planning and in public administration. She has lived in Goleta for the past ten years and loves raising her family here.
Councilmember James Kyriaco who has served on the Council since 2018 said, “I look forward to continuing our work together and building on the successes of the last four years. As we look ahead to enhancing our city and addressing the unique challenges we face, I am gratified to be returning with the support and partnership of our community and look forward to our work together to provide opportunities for our residents, ensure fiscal responsibility and protect the quality of our neighborhoods. As I sit here tonight, knowing that I have been returned to serve another four years in office, I am filled with feelings of optimism and gratitude.”
Councilmember Kyriaco serves as the City’s representatives on numerous organizations and sits on a wide variety of committees. He started his career working in local politics, managing, and assisting election campaigns. He also served as the Executive Director of the Goleta Valley Historical Society. He was also a founding member of the City of Goleta’s Public Engagement Commission and is a former member of the Santa Barbara County Historic Landmarks Advisory Committee.
Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Kyriaco graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Antioch University of Santa Barbara and earned a Master of Arts in Public Administration from California State University, Northridge. Kyriaco and his wife Angie have lived in Goleta since 2010.
Districts 3 and 4 in Western Goleta will vote for a Councilmember in the 2024 election. The Mayor’s position is elected city-wide and will be on the 2024 ballot. To find out what district you live in, click here.
Also at the Council meeting last night, Councilmember Kyle Richards was selected as Mayor Pro Tempore.
