Incumbent Jim Mosby, Councilman Jeremy Ball Face Off in Lompoc Mayoral Race

When a rocket lights up the southern sky over the Santa Ynez Valley, one of the best seats in the 805 belongs to Lompoc. The city sits just outside the gates of Vandenberg Space Force Base, hosts the base's civilian workforce and retirees, and fills up with launch chasers whenever SpaceX or United Launch Alliance sends a payload south over the Pacific. That's why this fall's Lompoc mayoral race — a rematch between incumbent Jim Mosby and City Councilman Jeremy Ball — is worth a look even if you mostly track the 805 for its launch schedule.

Noozhawk reported that Ball, 46, filed to run for the two-year mayoral term while in the middle of his four-year council term, arguing the city needs a new tone at the top. Mosby, 62, is seeking a second stint as mayor after returning to the dais in 2024.

Why the mayor's chair matters here

The mayor of Lompoc has the same single vote as the other four council members, but as Ball noted, the person holding the gavel represents the city to outside agencies — and for a city whose economy and identity are intertwined with a federal launch installation, that external relationship is no small thing. How Lompoc presents itself in conversations with county, state, and federal partners shapes everything from housing for base personnel to how the community leans into launch tourism.

Ball told Noozhawk he believes the city is "not being represented as well as we possibly can" in a lot of ways, while acknowledging the mayor can't fix every problem. "They can definitely build consensus, bring people together and really set a tone of respect for everybody," he said.

Mosby, for his part, framed his re-election bid simply: "The future of Lompoc is worth fighting for." He pointed to his analytical approach to city government and listed housing and jobs as the top issues, claiming progress on reducing growth-impact fees by up to 92% for single-family residences.

A rivalry with history

This isn't the pair's first head-to-head. As Noozhawk detailed, Mosby lost his council seat to Ball in November 2020, when Ball took 58.5% of the vote to Mosby's 41.3%. Mosby then lost a 2022 mayoral bid before winning the job in 2024 with 39.9% in a race where his two challengers split the remaining vote.

The dynamic between city leadership and city staff has also drawn attention. Noozhawk reported that City Hall has lost a significant number of top employees over the past two years, with many privately attributing their departures to Mosby's return — a claim the article notes Mosby did not address directly. Mosby contends there's "a great attitude" at City Hall under his leadership.

On the ballot and on the calendar

Beyond the mayor's race, two council seats are up: District 2's Victor Vega faces a challenge from Sharlameigne Segovia, a housing site manager, while District 3's Dirk Starbuck is not seeking re-election, leaving Nick Gonzales, a business owner, and Sarah Anne Read, a registered nurse, vying for that seat. If Ball loses the mayoral race, he stays on the council representing District 4; if he wins, the remaining council members could appoint a replacement or call a special election.

For voters who want to see the candidates in person, Noozhawk noted a nonpartisan candidate forum is planned for 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 8 in the Lompoc City Council Chambers at 100 Civic Center, organized by the Lompoc-Vandenberg Branch of the American Association of University Women — a group whose very name underscores how woven together Lompoc and the base community are.

The 805 takeaway

For launch fans, Lompoc's civic health is part of the hobby. The diners and viewing spots off Highway 1 and Highway 246, the hotels that fill on Falcon 9 nights, the streets where you feel those central-coast sonic booms roll in after a landing attempt — all of it depends on a city that's stable, welcoming, and well-run. Whoever wins the gavel in November will help set whether Lompoc leans into being the front porch of Vandenberg or stays quiet about it.

The candidates forum on Oct. 8 is a good chance for residents — including the base's many civilian neighbors — to hear directly how each man plans to represent a city whose fortunes rise and fall, sometimes literally, with the launch schedule.