David Silva
Appointed March 2026 by Governor Gavin Newsom
Term ends December 31, 2028
David Silva is the Mayor of the City of Buellton located in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley. First elected to the Buellton City Council in 2022 and then Mayor in 2024, Silva is proud to be an Orcutt native, a UC Santa Barbara graduate, and now having the opportunity for his husband and him to call the Santa Ynez Valley home, providing him with a lived experience across Santa Barbara County.
After graduating from UC Santa Barbara with a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies and Communications, Silva serves as the Senior Director of Development of Annual Giving Programs at UC Santa Barbara, helping support philanthropic initiatives at his alma mater.
Serving on the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District since 2025, Silva has had first-hand experience of the impact state policies have on rural and smaller air districts working hard to protect communities that are often heavily impacted by industry and transit. Silva currently serves as Vice Chair of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), where he works with regional partners to guide transportation planning and infrastructure investments across Santa Barbara County. Silva also serves on the Board of Directors for Central Coast Community Energy (3CE), working to support the region’s transition to clean and affordable energy.