District 1: Supervisor Larry Micari

This week, I was able to attend the National Association of Counties (NACO) Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. The meetings included speakers, policy discussions, visits to Capitol Hill, and more. But the focus of my visit came on Saturday – presenting a resolution to expand veteran benefit eligibility.

At our December 16, 2025 meeting, the Board of Supervisors heard from Hmong veterans of the CIA’s Secret War in Vietnam. These men fought in Laos under CIA direction to disrupt the Vietnamese and protect US soldiers. After escaping their home country, they became citizens through the Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000 and gained the right to be buried in national cemeteries (excluding Arlington) through the Hmong Veterans’ Service Recognition Act of 2018. However, their service and sacrifice do not permit them to receive veteran benefits.

After presenting our resolution, the Human Services and Education Policy Steering Committee voted unanimous approval and added it to the NACO Legislative Platform. With this new support, we had meetings on Capitol Hill to share the stories of these brave veterans who have served our country. Our request of our federal elected officials is to fully recognize their service and create a path for these men to apply for veteran benefits.

Learn more about Secret War veterans in the Valley and our work to support them from KMPH Fox 26.

District 2: Supervisor Pete Vander Poel

This week, Tulare County celebrated the grand opening of the new Coroner’s Office and morgue facility — an important investment in essential public safety services. Projects like this reflect years of planning and the Board of Supervisors’ commitment to ensuring our county’s infrastructure keeps pace with growth and community needs.

The new, state-of-the-art facility expands capacity and includes modern technology such as advanced radiology equipment and an on-site lab to better support investigations and coordination with law enforcement and first responders. Just as importantly, it provides a more professional and dignified environment for families during some of their most difficult moments.

I am proud to support investments that strengthen critical county operations, improve efficiency, and ensure that Tulare County continues to deliver reliable, high-quality public services to the residents we serve.

District 3: Supervisor Amy Shuklian

Tulare County has another James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award winner! Adrianne Hillman and Erin Garner-Ford of Salt + Light received the recognition, and a $350,000 grant, this week in Sacramento. The Foundation recognized their innovative work with the unhoused population by not just providing housing, but doing the work to develop community, provide services, and foster long-term stability.

After one year, 98% of Salt + Light residents in The Village remain housed, well above the national average of 87% who remain housed after receiving permanent housing. Residents receiving wrap-around care show improved blood pressure, A1C readings, and cholesterol levels over the course of 18 months. And 92% of residents feel hopeful about the future after six months in The Village.

Congratulations on this honor and thank you for doing this hard, important work for our community.

To learn more about the work being done to address homelessness in our communities, visit the Task Force on Homelessness.

District 4: Supervisor Eddie Valero

February is often known as the month of love, but in Tulare County, I also see it as the month of strength. Strength in our families. Strength in our communities. Strength in the foundations we continue to build together.

This past month reminded me that when we invest in people, infrastructure, and opportunity, we are laying down something that will serve generations to come.

We proudly celebrated the grand opening of the new fitness center at the Sequoia Community Center in Badger, a major investment in our foothill and mountain communities. Through collaboration with Tulare County HHSA and the strategic use of ARPA funding, we were able to bring a much-needed wellness resource to residents in Badger. 

We also marked an important milestone with the ribbon cutting for the expansion of the Tulare County Sheriff-Coroner’s facility.

Public safety is foundational to community wellbeing. This expansion ensures that our County has the appropriate infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing population with professionalism, dignity, and care.

February also gave us the opportunity to celebrate extraordinary women through the Ruby Awards hosted by Soroptimist International. The Ruby Award recognizes women who have made significant contributions to improving the lives of women and girls. Across Tulare County, we are blessed with leaders who serve quietly, boldly, and faithfully in education, nonprofit work, business, public service, and mentorship.

District 5: Supervisor Dennis Townsend

We are in the Primary season now and the events, ads, and contribution requests are ramping up. Every election season gets crazy as election day nears and we become inundated with facts, figures, promises, and attacks that we have a temptation to completely tune out of what has become known as the “silly season.” I heard a comedian talking about training his son to be involved in democracy “except in the last presidential election because it was the same two old dudes again.” He went on to tell his son to “just take a pass on this one.” We all understand the feeling at times, but I encourage people to get involved anyway. “We the people” are the government in this country so if we “just take a pass,” we surrender the right, privilege, and responsibility of governance. Instead, despite disappointment with candidates or a certain piece of legislation that doesn’t go far enough, we must make the hard decisions on which candidate will better achieve our goals, and which legislation will move towards the goals we believe in. We will be hard-pressed to ever find a perfect person to vote for because they are all, in fact, human. I do encourage you all to take an active part in every election cycle and keep this government “of the people” alive and vibrant for future generations.

To register to vote and see upcoming election dates, please visit the Tulare County Registrar of Voters.