District 1: Supervisor Larry Micari

This week I shared the State of the County address at the Board of Supervisors meeting. The short story: the state of our County is strong, but we need to be fiscally conservative in the coming years. The longer story is that we have amazing people who work for Tulare County and do great work for our community every day, and none of our achievements would be possible without them. We have members of our Sheriff’s Department willing to run into a burning building to save children, we have compassionate people at Animal Services who care for animals who have been abandoned, our Health & Human Services Agency works with more than 60% of our residents to ensure they are safe and healthy, and so many more examples of strength, care, and community building. There are always challenges in governing, budgeting, and leading, but the folks I get to with in Tulare County are up to any challenges we will face.



To listen to the full State of the County, please go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFuXt3xWfnw&t=1s.

District 2: Supervisor Pete Vander Poel

Another successful World Ag Expo was held in Tulare this month. It’s amazing to see how far this show, and ag in general, has come since the first one in 1968. A 2020 study revealed that the farm show brings over $30 million in economic impact to Tulare County. This year, there were 1,258 exhibitors at the show representing 43 states, Washington D.C., and 22 countries. That’s not counting the thousands of attendees on the grounds over the three days. You would think the exhibitors would be the only attraction, but the show has more. There were 32 food booths on the grounds serving breakfast burritos, specialty coffee, tri tip, ice cream, cobbler, and more. All were run by local non-profits that put their earnings back into local communities. And I got to be part of the action too! I joined Chef David Vartanian of the Vintage Press in Visalia to cook live in the World Ag Women pavilion. We made roast pork with jalapeno polenta. The crowd was able to try our creation and I heard it was tasty. Congrats to everyone involved on another great show!

District 3: Supervisor Amy Shuklian

We have great leaders and community organizations throughout Tulare County, so it is a special day when a home-grown group is recognized at the state level. Brian Poth and Nick Vargas, the founders of the The Source LGBT+ Center in Visalia, were honored at the state capitol this month as recipients of a James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award. One of six winners this year, the award recognizes leaders whose innovative solutions to critical state challenges improve people’s lives, create opportunity, and contribute to a better California. The recognition also comes with a $350,000 grant and additional resources. These new funds will help Nick and Brian to continue to foster hope, health, safety, and inclusivity in the Central Valley, and add new resources in the future. Thank you for the work you do for our community and congratulations!

District 4: Supervisor Eddie Valero

As we all know, rain causes severe impacts to our roadways, and I’m happy to report that RMA has been working diligently to repair, repave, and refill road damage in North Tulare County. I want to thank RMA for the work being done in our unincorporated communities.

It’s always an honor to attend our Nation’s Capital. My trip to Washington DC was filled with lots of learning, engaging, and connecting. The annual National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference helps keep us informed of all things federal policy. I serve on the Human Services and Education committee and attended various sessions on these topics.

As a member of the Tulare County Regional Transportation Authority, I want to share exciting news for Northern Tulare County residents in places like Cutler-Orosi, Delft Colony, Dinuba, London, Monson-Sultana, Traver, and Yettem-Seville! TCRTA is introducing a new mode of transportation coming our way on April 1, 2024! Getting in and around our county will become a whole lot easier. Whether you need a quick ride to work, a check-up with your doctor, need to run errands around town, or just explore the area, TCRTA will have you covered!

We have two Tulare County District Four Superstar Champions! Congratulations to Woodlake Union High School for your #1 Varsity Boys Soccer CIF Central Section finish! Congratulations to Dinuba High School for your #1 Varsity Boys Basketball CIF Central Section finish! Get ready for State because you both will do Great!

District 5: Supervisor Dennis Townsend

During election season, I want to urge you to be as involved as you possibly can with the process of democracy. I have had the opportunity to travel to several countries and I have seen what happens when our form of government or something similar is not present. Ours is a representative republic and depends entirely on the active participation of an informed citizenry. It is admittedly easier to sit back and watch what happens or even take a particular person or group’s direction on exactly how to vote. It is also easier to disconnect and not vote at all and later complain about what “the government” is doing. In the United States, the truth is WE ARE the Government. We are a “government of the people, BY THE PEOPLE, and for the people.” It takes more time and considerably more effort to become familiar with the candidates and issues and get out and cast an informed vote. It takes even more time and energy to help with campaigns and initiatives and discuss important issues with friends and family. It could even cause some uncomfortable moments. But…it is worth it to make your voice count and engage in being the government we are designed to be.



By the time you read this, many will have already voted in the Primary elections. If, for whatever reason, you didn’t, please make it a point to get registered and be involved in the General election cycle. It is so important that we hold on to our self-governance. Without it we will lose the very foundation this great nation was built on and, with it, our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.