Biography
Salud Carbajal, born on November 18, 1964, in Moroleón, Mexico, immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of five. They initially settled in Arizona, where his father worked in the copper mines, and later moved to Oxnard, California, after the mine's closure. During his youth, Carbajal worked alongside his father as a farmworker during summers. He became the first in his family to graduate from college, earning a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara , and later a Master's degree in Organizational Management from Fielding Graduate University.
Carbajal served eight years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, including active duty during the 1991 Gulf War. His military service instilled in him a commitment to public service, leading him to a career in local government. He served as Chief of Staff for Santa Barbara County Supervisor Naomi Schwartz before being elected as the First District Supervisor of Santa Barbara County in 2004, a position he held until 2016.
In 2016, Carbajal was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat, representing California's 24th Congressional District, which includes Santa Barbara County and parts of San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties. He has been re-elected in subsequent terms and is currently serving his fifth term.
Throughout his tenure in Congress, Carbajal has focused on issues such as environmental protection, veterans' affairs, infrastructure, and public safety. He introduced the California Clean Coast Act, aiming to ban future offshore oil and gas drilling along California's coast, and has been an advocate for climate change mitigation. As a veteran, he has worked to ensure the needs of fellow veterans are met, including securing funding for Veterans Treatment Courts and addressing veteran homelessness.
Carbajal is married to Gina, and they have two children, Natasha and Michael.
Education
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Bachelor of Arts: University of California, Santa Barbara
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Master's Degree in Organizational Management: Fielding Graduate University
Political Experience
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Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors: First District Supervisor
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U.S. House of Representatives: Representative for California's 24th Congressional District
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Committee Assignments:
- House Committee on Agriculture
- House Committee on Armed Services
- House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- Chair of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Carbajal's legislative efforts reflect his commitment to environmental stewardship, veterans' support, and infrastructure development, aligning with the needs and values of his constituents in California's Central Coast.
