This Latino elected official in Tulare County goes for seconds, makes history

Veteran politician Eddie Valero made history Tuesday morning at the Tulare County Board of Supervisors Chambers when he was sworn in to a second term to represent District 4.

“It’s has been an honor of a lifetime serving as your county supervisor for the great County of Tulare,” said Valero in his outgoing speech as chairman of the board. “These past four years, and more specifically my year as chair in 2022, has challenged, yet fostered, my leadership capacity.”

Valero was the first Mexican American elected to the board four years ago. He became the first Latino in Tulare County history to win re-election to a second term on the board, an effort that two previous candidates failed.

“Never in a million years would have imagined serving in this capacity as a county supervisor, let alone with a worldwide pandemic included in the job description,” said the Ivy League graduate.

He is the only Latino currently on the board of supervisors.

The county has about 477,000 residents, of which 66.7% are Latino based on a July 2021 estimate by the Census Bureau.

Valero, who was forced into a runoff after having won outright in his first try, rattled off “the hard work we’ve accomplished:”

▪ Aiding underserved communities.

▪ Connecting people to resources

▪ Making tough decision on land issues.

▪ Investing in and protecting residents and businesses.

▪ Providing leadership opportunities to youth – “the next generation of leaders.”

▪ Keeping communities healthy and whole.

▪ Investing in people on the margins.

▪ Being an advocate for the underserved.

There is “so much more,” said Valero.

District 4 in north Tulare County includes the unincorporated communities of Badger, Cutler-Orosi, Elderwood, Goshen, Ivanhoe, London, Monson-Sultana, Seville, Traver and Yettem as well as the cities of Dinuba, Woodlake and portions of Visalia.

“I am excited for my next term, another four years, representing the best people in the best county across the state and nation,” said Valero, who thanked his parents for giving him a vast array of opportunities to succeed early on and for instilling in him a passion for and of service.

Valero also thanked his pastors for their continued leadership training that has guided his decision-making on the dais and many family members and friends who have played a major role and impact throughout his journey.

“I couldn’t do this without you,” Valero said.

Valero’s family – including his parents Miguel and Blanca Valero and his aunt Petrita Stout – was present.

“We love what he’s doing, he loves what he’s doing. I mean he’s helped the community helps everybody. Very happy for him,” said Blanca Valero of her son.

Among those in the audience were Fresno City Councilmembers Miguel Arias and Nelson Esparza.

“It’s important to make sure that we support Eddie Valero and his leadership of Tulare County, not only is he one of the few Latinos in Tulare County leadership, but it’s also one of the sharpest minds that the Central Valley has ever had in public service,” Arias said.

The two contributed to Valero’s campaign, said Arias, in support of Valero’s governance and leadership.

“And we quite often share you know lessons learned between Fresno and Tulare so that they can avoid some of the mistakes that we’ve made in the past as the city and they can, you know, do a better job in Tulare County, especially as their growing community like Visalia is,” Arias said.

Arias has relatives in Farmersville, “so it’s in my interest to make sure that it’s also represented by some solid Latino leadership.”

Esparza said Valero did a “tremendous job as chairman. We wanted to be here to support him and his success and he’s very much the future of Tulare County and we look forward to more of what’s to come for him.”

Emmanuel Hernández Soto, the newly elected Visalia City Councilmember, also showed up to support Valero.

“I’m here to see history be made again and also to see you know someone I looked up to be sworn in again and be the first Latino to be reelected for board of supervisor. I think it is important that he is here to represent our community and everything he does on the board,” said the 30-year-old Soto.

Dr. Randy Villegas – newly elected to the Visalia Unified School District board of trustees representing Area 6 and a professor at College of the Sequoias – called Valero’s sworn-in ceremony a historic moment in the county.

“I’m here because you know history was made as we successfully reelected the first Latino of the Board of Supervisors. I think it’s a really historic moment in Tulare County politics and I am here to support supervisor Valero,” said Villegas, 28.

Latino community leader Suzanna Aguilera Madero said Valero is “well poised, well educated and prepared to move us forward.”

Aguilera Madero said Valero understands all the policies because of his education.

She said Valero has moved ‘gente’ forward with everything he has previously done on the school board and with the young men’s initiative and helping with scholarships and now at the county level he will move mountains.

“I can’t wait to see him at the state and the federal level. He really inspires a lot of hope, a lot of vision and a lot of hard work. Llegó con ganas, (he arrived eagerly)” Aguilera Madero said.

Valero also shared what he has learned in his position as supervisor, “don’t minimize the value of a steady pace and practice. After all, what we practice today is what will sustain us tomorrow.”

“Practice well, pace yourself, embrace change, keep growing, and be prepared for everything that awaits us in the days ahead,” Valero said.