Wow! What a whirlwind the first two months have been!

As the newly elected Supervisor for District One, I have already been appointed to more than 20 Boards, Commissions, Authorities, Associations and Committees since my induction to the Board of Supervisors on January 10, 2017.  These assignments along with the time dedicated to a number of constituent concerns has kept me reasonably busy. 

I’m finding in my new role as a Supervisor, some the most fun and rewarding experiences so far have been meeting with great our staff members. 

I have asked each County Department Head for the opportunity to meet with them and other employees to learn about their functions within Tulare County.  Quite frankly, this has been a bit overwhelming, but very helpful, as I make decisions that impact our departments, employees, and the County as a whole. 

I want to thank those of you who have taken time out of your busy schedules to help educate me by expanding my knowledge of the everyday functions and major projects that take place in this county.  I am looking forward to speaking with many others, as I continue to meet with various County Departments throughout this year. 

Now, what’s going on in District One? 

One of the first items I worked on was with our Ag Commissioner.  The California Department of Pesticide Regulation recently installed a new monitoring station in Lindsay.  As a farmer myself, I took initiative to work with our County Ag Commissioner in sending a letter to inform growers in the area to be on high alert and ensure they utilize the best practices in the industry when applying treatments to their trees and crops. 

Groundwater has been a topic of much discussion. My focus has been on the Kaweah Subbasin which encompasses much of the central portion of Tulare County including: Exeter, Lindsay, Strathmore, Farmersville, Visalia and Tulare. 

Staff and I have been working diligently to resolve an administration issue with respect to an overlap amongst regional groups in the area. 

The last issue I’ll share is the community outreach our Health & Human Services Agency staff and I have done on the new Visalia Wellness & Recovery Center on Lovers Lane.   We completed two listening sessions this month in addition to multiple meetings with stakeholders and individuals.

It is my intent to continue being accessible and listen to the people I serve as the District One Supervisor on this Board.

I am committed to having more transparency in conducting the County’s business, but in doing so, also supporting our staff in achieving the critical work that is necessary for moving Tulare County forward.