Margaret Connell was elected to the Goleta City Council in November 2008. This marks the second term for her; she was the City's first mayor and served on the City Council from December 2001 to December 2006. On December 1, 2009 she was appointed as Mayor Pro Tempore for the 2010 term. Previously, she served for two years on the Santa Barbara Air Pollution Control District's board, which she chaired in 2006, and was a member of the Santa Barbara Civil Service Commission in 2000-2001. Connell represented the community on the Santa Barbara School Board from 1975 - 1992.
Councilmember Connell serves on the following City Committees: The Finance Committee, the Ordinance Review Committee, the Community Development Block Grant Action Plan Committee, the Library Committee, the Recognition Committee, the Recreation Committee, and the Solid Waste Task Force Committee. Connell is also on the following regional committees: The Foundation for Girsh Park Board, and the Multi-Jurisdictional Solid Waste Task Group.
Connell grew up in England and earned a BA in zoology from Oxford University. She came to Goleta in 1956 when her husband, Joe Connell, joined the faculty at UCSB. She has raised her family here in Goleta and has been an active participant in the community for over 40 years.
Connell's other activities include serving on the: Goleta Valley Historical Society Board, Goleta Valley Land Trust Board, the Citizen’s Planning Association Land Use Committee and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund Board. She was also a founding member of the Santa Barbara Women's Political Committee.