Two Latino candidates make political history in Tulare County city council & supervisor races

First-time candidate Emmanuel Soto and veteran politician Eddie Valero made history Tuesday night.

Soto became the second Latino in the history of Visalia to be elected to the city council (District 4).

Valero became the first Latino to win a second term on the Tulare County Board of Supervisors. He had been forced into a runoff in District 4 by Dinuba businessman Scott Harness.

In Kings County, Martín Chávez fell short of unseating incumbent Joe Neves for the county’s District 1 supervisor race.

Soto won his bid for Visalia City Council District 4 race; Valero won a second term as Tulare County supervisor to represent District 4.

Visalia City Council District 4

In the open seat for the Visalia City Council District 4 race, Soto received 846 votes (48.87%), while his opponents Bob Ainley received 634 (36.63%) and Marie Line-Labbee received 251 (14.5%), according to Tulare’s final election night report.

“Definitely excited, happy and you know, excited to have all that support and I have a lot of people to thank tomorrow and was able to see a couple tonight,” said Soto in a phone interview on election night. “And just you know, the real work begins now or once I’m you know officially a city councilman.”

The 30-year-old Soto, a development specialist with Self Help Enterprises, accomplished something that’s been done only once in Visalia’s 148-year history – to be elected as a Latino to the Visalia City Council.

The city changed to district elections in 2016, but until Tuesday night no one has succeeded Jesús Gamboa as a Latino on the council.

“I just want to make sure everybody knows that I’m very thankful for their votes and just hoping to be that voice for District 4 on the city council. I’m excited too,” said Soto.

Lali Moheno, community leader and longtime activist for wellness rights for female farmworkers, said redistricting has made Visalia’s District 4 a Latino-majority district.

While some might consider Soto young, Moheno said Soto is very impressive, not only open to learning but also hard working.

“He’s got a lot of potential just by observing him,” Moheno said, adding that Soto reached out to the constituency in the district not only introducing himself but listening to the needs. “He did what needed to be done and did it right.”

Visalia – which has almost 143,000 residents – is almost 52% Latino, according to a July 2021 estimate by the Census Bureau.

Tulare County District 4 Supervisor

Valero defeated his challenger in a close District 4 supervisor race capturing 4,097 votes (52.62%) while Scott Harness received 3,689 votes (47.38%), a 408-vote difference.

“This has been a hard-fought race, but I am thankful by the tremendous support of family, friends, neighbors and communities across District 4,” said Valero on election night. “You have all run alongside me on this journey and I hope to continue making the district and all of Tulare County proud of the work we still need to accomplish.”

Valero was the first Mexican American elected to the board four years ago. Now, he became the first Latino to win re-election to the board, an effort that two previous candidates failed. He is the only Latino currently on the board of supervisors.

Moheno, who was appointed to the supervisory board, lost her bid for election.

“Eddie is the first Latino to win reelection and he too is highly competent, very educated, very well respected among the community, very hard working, always on top of things,” Moheno said, adding that Valero “never missing out on opportunities to serve the community.”

Valero kept busy walking precincts, knocking on doors, talking to constituents, and seeking support for re-election to District 4 for a second term. The Ivy League graduate was also active on social media.

“Although we are ahead, I will continue to observe the results as they come in throughout the days and weeks ahead,” Valero said.

The district 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.

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

Kings County District 1 supervisor race

Stratford native Martín Chávez fell 333 votes short of unseating incumbent Joe Neves for the county’s District 1 supervisor race.

The 28-year-old challenger captured 1,298 votes (44.32%), according to King’s final election night report.

Chávez, who was a few months old in 1994 when Kings County Board of Supervisor Joe A. Neves was first elected, couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday morning.

Neves, one of the Valley’s longest-serving supervisors, received 1,631 votes (55.68%) for District 1, which has 28,543 residents in a 131-square-mile area that includes Lemoore and Stratford.

According to King’s final election night report a total of 2,929 votes were cast. Kings County is 55% Latino.

Neves, 64, is a fourth-generation farmer who went to Stratford Elementary School, graduated from Lemoore High School in 1976 and went to West Hills Community College as well as University of Phoenix and Brandman University.

Neves took office in January 1995 and has been on the county board since then.

Chávez, a republican and a 2016 UC Merced graduate aimed to become the second Latino on the board. Supervisor Richard Valle represents District 2, which includes Avenal, Corcoran, Home Garden and Kettleman City.

Currently there are no Republican Latino on a county board of supervisors in the Valley.