"Some business groups are great for networking, others for meeting people, under the leadership of Joe Armendariz, CSBIA has become the strongest business advocate in Santa Barbara County. They are on top of every major and minor issue that impacts business before it is too late to do anything.  Without Joe Armendariz and CSBIA, Santa Barbara County would be a much harder place to do business."  - John Davies, CEO, DAVIES

"Joe, thanks for all you do. You are definitely our go-to guy in Santa Barbara and your efforts are greatly appreciated by our entire team." - Jon Coupal, President, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

"Joe, if we only had more advocates with your sense of priority...Thanks for your support." - Joseph A. Smith, Chief Deputy, Sheriff, Santa Barbara County

"Joe has a reputation as a thoughtful person with an ability to evaluate tough and complicated issues dispassionately. He is highly intelligent and carefully weighs the delicate balance between protecting the environment and the economic impacts on our state and local communities." - Ben Zuckerman, Professor, Physics and Astronomy Department, UCLA

I have had the pleasure of working with Joe on various regional projects. I have found him to be quite intelligent, sensible, and an individual who understands that solutions to complex resource issues need to be approached in a balanced manner. - Dan B. Secord, M.D., California Coastal Commissioner, former Santa Barbara City Councilman

"I have been privileged to know Joe since 2001 when he agreed to become the Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Industrial Association.  Joe has unflappably met a high standard of intelligent, collaborative representation of responsible business interests, while exhibiting an impressive knowledge of budgetary, procedural and regulatory aspects of these complex controversial issues." - Tom Banigan, Vice President, QA/Regulatory Compliance, Nusil Technology

"What really impresses me about Joe Armendariz is he is a Republican that was elected in a city with a large Democrat majority. He was able to do in Carpinteria what Governor Schwarzenegger did in California, build broad coalitions." - Andy Granatelli, Retired Professional Race Car Driver

"I have known Joe Armendariz for several years in his role as an advocate for the Santa Barbara Industrial Association and Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association. He has demonstrated outstanding leadership in his role with these organizations. Joe has the ability to understand very complex issues. His ability to clearly dissect complex issues and articulate his point of view is outstanding." - Danny G Wynn, President/CEO, Penfield & Smith

"As an attorney who has been practicing law in Santa Barbara for the past 28 years, it has been my pleasure to know Joe Armendariz for the past 12. Joe is a thinking person who does his homework. He works through problems and finds solutions." - Randall Fox, Attorney, Reetz, Fox & Bartlett, LLP

"I know Mr. Armendariz professionally, having worked with him as a board member of the Santa Barbara Industrial Association, and know him to be a person of the highest honesty and integrity. He is thorough in his analytical abilities to understand all factors affecting issues and is very articulate in communicating the issues and his position relating to them." - Dr. Ken Tompetrini, President  & CEO (Retired), Nautronix MariPro, Inc

"Joe Armendariz has demonstrated his ability for civility and cordiality on a number of potentially divisive issues. He has earned the respect of his colleagues and has garnered valuable experience with coastal issues ranging from offshore oil production and onshore facilities, open space protection, the need for affordable and workforce housing and public access." - Laurence L. (Bud) Laurent, Former County Supervisor in San Luis Obispo County (1991-99) and Executive Director of Santa Barbara’s Community Environmental Council

"I believe Mr. Armendariz is a thoughtful individual who can evaluate complicated issues and come to intelligent and reasonable decisions based on the facts presented. The voters in the City of Carpinteria elected Joe Armendariz to the City Council in a heavily Democrat district despite the fact that Joe is a registered Republican.  Joe’s reputation as a person who seeks sound solutions to pressing issues is likely why he enjoys the confidence of voters." - Stuart H. Hurlbert, PhD, Professor of Biology and Director of the Center for Inland Waters at San Diego State University