Rep.SaludCarbajal
Carbajal was joined by Lavagnino and local officials to celebrate the legacy of the longtime Santa Maria mayor and community leader
[On Monday], Congressman Salud Carbajal unveiled federal legislation to formally rename the U.S. Post Office on E Battles Road in Santa Maria in honor of Larry Lavagnino, the City’s former Mayor, City Councilmember, and longtime resident.
“Every community should be so lucky to have a Larry Lavagnino. His love and dedication for Santa Maria is evidenced by the fact that he still lives only a few houses down from where he first was raised in this community,” said Rep. Carbajal. “A community champion such as Mayor Larry Lavagnino is well deserving of recognition that will stand the tests of time – and I am proud to have an opportunity as Santa Maria’s Representative in Congress to unveil legislation that will help cement that recognition. As a veteran of local government, and someone who worked with Mayor Lavagnino, I know this public commemoration more than suits the decades of public service that Larry has given to his community and the Central Coast.”
“I want to thank Congressman Carbajal for this unexpected honor as well as all the colleagues I’ve served with. But most of all, I’d like to thank the citizens of this great city. Not only did you put your trust in me as your Mayor, but to this day, I still have people approach me to thank me for my service. The reality is, I have had a love affair with this city for 88 years and the pleasure has been all mine,” said Larry Lavagnino.
Larry Lavagnino served as Mayor of Santa Maria from 2002 to 2012, and as a Member of the Santa Maria City Council from 1996 to 2002.
During his time as Mayor, Santa Maria saw a significant number of improvements and additions, including a new library, multiple new fire stations, a new transit center, a new police department building, the expansion of the city’s wastewater treatment plant, and the widening of Santa Maria River Bridge and Highway 101.
On top of the above improvements during his tenure, Mayor Lavagnino was also able to help secure more than $46 million in federal funding for improvements to the Santa Maria River Levee, which protects thousands of homes and businesses in the area. He also helped bring about the Abel Maldonado Youth Center, which continues to provide a safe and welcoming space for teens.
Lavagnino is a graduate of Santa Maria Union High School and Allan Hancock College, and still lives four houses down from the Santa Maria home that he grew up in.
The legislation was unveiled this morning at Santa Maria City Hall with Santa Barbara County Supervisor, and son of the longtime Mayor, Steve Lavagnino, and current Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino.
“There is no one who loves this city more than my dad,” said Supervisor Lavagnino. “The introduction of this legislation ensures that your name will be remembered in the future as someone who put this city first and led with an optimistic positive outlook.”
“Every decision he made was because he loves this City, and was always in the best interest of the City,” said Mayor Patino.
Carbajal’s legislation would rename the Post Office on E. Battles Road in Santa Maria if passed by the United States Congress and signed by President Joe Biden.
Rep. Salud Carbajal represents California’s 24th Congressional District, encompassing Santa Barbara County and portions of San Luis Obispo County and Ventura County. He is a member of the Agriculture and Armed Services Committees, as well as the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he serves as the top Democrat on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee.
No public space or building or road should be named after a living person.