The mission of the Salinas Valley Leadership Group is to identify, recruit and support candidates for non-partisan local office who desire to serve their communities, exhibit qualities of leadership and integrity, and who will support the vital interests of business in the conduct of local government.
NOVEMBER 8TH - GENERAL ELECTION
Joe Moses
Candidate - Monterey County Sheriff
Joe Moses joined the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy in 1994 and has dedicated his life to public service. Currently, Joe is the only Captain in the Sheriff's Office. He knows what it takes to deliver quality law enforcement for his community and what it takes to be the next Sheriff.
From a young age, Joe knew that he wanted to help people, and that desire turned into protecting Monterey County daily. He has been a resident of Monterey County for most of his life and has raised his family in this community.
Joe has served in every Bureau through every promotion – from Deputy to Captain. Along the way, he has learned what it means to manage and lead staff at the Sheriff’s Office to provide the services citizens expect and deserve.
Joe has earned numerous degrees perfecting his skills and knowledge, including a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, a Master of Science in Emergency Services Administration, a POST Management Certificate and a Senior Management Institute for Police certificate, to name a few. Improving every aspect of the Sheriff’s Office has been the driving force behind his professional career. These skills have been put to practice on the streets and in the jail, in the Chambers of the Board of Supervisors and in the backcountry of Big Sur with the Search and Rescue Team.
Joe remains committed to developing policies, procedures and programs to create efficient execution of Sheriff's Office duties, including making sure the Sheriff's Office is invested in diversity, equity and inclusion so that the department best reflects the community that it serves.
Glenn Church
Candidate - Monterey County Supervisor, District 2
As the only candidate who is a lifelong resident of North County, Glenn knows the communities and people of District 2. Active in county and community affairs since the late 1970s, Glenn understands how local government works. With over 40 years of real-world experience as a small businessman and farmer, he understands the struggles of working and middle-class people, and that government must do better.
Glenn has seen the threats to our quality of life and the neglect from the county towards District 2 over recent years. He is committed to working with all people to take control of the future and create the kind of change that we all want -- a county government that acts, listens and makes people's lives easier, instead of being an obstacle to solving problems.
Kimbley Craig
Incumbent - Salinas City Mayor
Salinas Mayor Kimbley Craig, is President & CEO of Monterey County Business Council. She leads the organization and specializes in forging cross-sector partnerships between private, public, and nonprofit agencies. She is also the current Executive Director for Leadership Monterey County.
In 2020, after the unexpected passing of Mayor Joe Gunter, Kimbley stepped up to run for Mayor. The city needed stability, leadership, and guidance in a time of crisis. She had wide support, and committed to handling the COVID pandemic and the $14 million dollar deficit. With no vaccines available as she took office, Salinas was the city with most of the county’s cases – Kimbley pushed to prioritize the elderly in the zip codes with the highest cases – 93905, 93906, 93907, and 93901. She worked to also prioritize vaccinating farmworkers as they returned from Yuma in March 2021. She also took the final steps with her new council to hire a new City Manager, and address the $14 million deficit, successfully balancing the city’s budget in 2021 and 2022.
She has consistently voted to support police and fire budgets, understanding a safe, livable community is critical to the quality of life of our residents. She is also successfully addressing homelessness in Salinas – by creating state-funded transitional housing with wraparound services. And she’s committed to increasing affordable housing options for all levels of income in Salinas.
Steve McShane
Incumbent - Salinas City Council, District 3
Steve is a husband, dad, entrepreneur, three-term Salinas City Councilman and the CEO of the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce. He has lived and worked in Salinas for more than 20 years.
Steve's public service includes public safety boards, clean energy boards, and many local government agencies. He knows what it takes to grow businesses, improve infrastructure, and keep our communities safe.
Under his leadership, over 380 affordable homes have been built in Salinas, with many more on the way. Salinas has also increased police patrols in needed areas and has put an emphasis on preventing crimes before they occur by providing after-school programs to teenagers, giving them alternatives to hanging out on the streets. Steve pioneered a city-wide app so people could log issues with sidewalks and city property directly with Public Works.
Christie Cromeenes
Incumbent - Salinas City Council, District 5
As your City Councilmember, Christie has worked to obtain monies for sidewalk and road repair, traffic calming and homeless advocacy. She was successful in obtaining over 8 million to fund a new Community Center in the heart of District 5. She has worked to obtain money for every park in our district and that work will start soon.
She is working hard on affordable housing options along with affordable by design as well. Public safety is important to her, she plans to work with both fire and police on actions to take to make the city a more secure place for your family to live and play.
As the Executive Director of the Central Coast Builders Association, Christie works to improve laws and regulations that are harmful to businesses and the community. Representing both union and merit shops, she works to uphold the principles of ethics and fair industry practices through education and advocacy.
Maria Corralejo
Candidate - Soledad City Mayor
Maria is a community leader, small business owner, and a strong advocate for the Soledad Community which serves all residents and business owners. She is a daughter of a single farm working mother that raised 6 children in Soledad. Her mother taught her the importance of hard work and giving back.
Maria has over 20 years of experience in affordable and private housing, and personnel project and budget management. She has been awarded the Soledad Leader of the Year and Business of the Year based on her demonstrated community impact. She recently created a small business association in Soledad that offers support to business owners through networking, resources, and promotion. Maria founded a community social media page that provides vital information, community events, and resources.
Maria believes in investing in the youth and has created town hall meetings on the dangers of drugs. She has participated in career days and has created volunteer opportunities and internships for Soledad's youth.
Alejandro Chavez
Incumbent - Soledad City Council
Alejandro Chavez and his family have made Soledad their home for nearly 20 years. Alejandro was elected to the Soledad City Council in November of 2010. He is the Soledad representative on the Transportation Agency of Monterey County Board of Directors, Transportation Agency of Monterey County Rail Policy Committee. He also serves on the City’s Parks and Recreation Committee and the Salinas Valley Broadband Committee.
Alejandro has vast experience working in the public sector along with the private sector as he is currently the Executive Director of a business association representing more than 600 businesses. Alejandro Chavez previously worked as Chief of Staff for Monterey County Board of Supervisor Armenta representing District 1 from 2000 until 2017. Previous to that he had been an Executive Director of non-profit dealing with substance abuse and gang issues.
Alejandro has been on numerous Boards throughout the County of Santa Cruz and Monterey over the years, including Pajaro Valley Affordable Housing Corp, Central Coast YMCA and the South County YMCA to name a few. Alejandro Chavez has been a coach at various levels and different sports. These sports include baseball, softball, football, volleyball and basketball. Alejandro has over 18 years of coaching experience from T-ball to travel ball in baseball, from Iddy-Bitty Basketball to the High School level in basketball and a number of teams at all levels in volleyball, etc. In addition, Alejandro was the Athletic Director at a Middle School in Salinas for 6 years.
Alejandro and Erica are parents of two wonderful young adults. Both of them are college students. One is a college athlete and studying City and Regional Planning at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and the other is studying Kinesiology at Cal Poly Pomona in the hopes of getting their Master’s Degree in Public Health.
Jose Rios
Incumbent - Gonzales City Mayor
Retired from his job at PG&E, Jose L. Rios serves as mayor of Gonzales. A first-generation Mexican-American citizen and the son of a farmworker, Rios serves on the boards of the Transportation Agency for Monterey County, Mayors' Association, Mayors' Select Committee, and City & School Joint Steering Committee.
Learn more about Jose.
Liz Silva
Incumbent - Gonzales City Council
Liz was born in Salinas and raised in Gonzales. She attended the local schools and has remained an active resident of the community throughout the years. She wants to ensure that Gonzales remains a positive influence in the county/state. She was appointed to the City Council in January 2009, to fill a vacancy and has been re-elected three times since then.
Liz am dedicated to ensuring that Gonzales maintains its “small town” feel and a place where people want to move to and raise their families. Besides serving on our City Council, she has represented Gonzales as:
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Mayor Pro-Tempore;
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Director for Salinas Valley Recycles’ Board
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Council representative on the City’s Measure K Oversight Committee;
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Current community representative on the Hartnell Measure T Oversight Committee
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American Legion Auxiliary Unit 81;
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Girls Inc. of the Central Coast Board;
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GHS Ag Advisory Group;
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The Lions Club;
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Monterey County Fair Heritage Foundation, serving as President since 2016;
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California Rodeo Committee for 30 years;
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St. Theodore Church;
Learn more about Liz.
Lorraine Worthy
Incumbent - Gonzales City Council
A small-business owner and a former winery manager, Lorraine Worthy familiarized herself with city government by serving on the Gonzales Planning Commission. She ran for council in 2018 and us now serving her second term.
In addition to serving as a city council member, Lorraine serves on the following boards:
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Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (alternate)
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Transportation Agency for Monterey County (alternate)
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Monterey-Salinas Transit
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Measure K Oversight Committee
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Economic Development Committee
Learn more about Lorraine.
Sean Schmidt
Candidate - Gonzales City Council
A Monterey County native, Sean’s family roots run deep in the Salinas Valley. He come from a long line of ranchers and business owners that have brought new and innovative ideas to our communities – including the first water company in the Alisal. He began in Leadership when he was only 9 years old by joining Natividad 4H. Sean is a graduate of North Salinas High School where he was actively involved in FFA. He graduated from Heald College in 2012 with a degree in Criminal Justice.
Married in 2005, his wife, Lesleigh, their adult son, Tyler and their daughter Austyn were able to purchase their first home and become residents of Gonzales in 2014. Since moving to Gonzales, Sean has had the opportunity to serve his community as a Firefighter for the City of Gonzales for 7 years, where he was chosen as Firefighter of the Year in 2018 and obtained the rank of Lieutenant. For the last year he has served on the Measure K Advisory Committee – where they help promote transparency and provide advisory recommendations on the use and budget of the funds received through the Temporary Use Tax.
Drew Tipton
Incumbent - Greenfield City Council
As a representative for Greenfield, Drew currently sits on both the Salinas Valley Recycles and the South Monterey County Broadband Authority boards, ensuring the community needs are met. He has advocated to bring new business and development to Greenfield. He has worked to continue to improve public safety, including purchasing a new fire engine and voicing Greenfield’s concerns over a proposed new ambulance contract. Drew continues to plan for city growth, including a new community center planned for the corner of 12th and Apple and a new sewage treatment plant.
If re-elected to the City Council, Drew will continue to be fair and reason with city businesses. He will work to provide the services Greenfield needs in able to grow, and to bring in new opportunities for growth.
Dr. Rolando Cabrera
Candidate - Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare District, Zone 1
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Learn more about Dr. Cabrera.
Richard Turner
Incumbent - Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare District, Zone 4
Richard Turner has over 30 years of experience as a Financial Executive. He currently works for one of the largest produce companies in the valley in a financial leadership role and has come from an agricultural community in Southwestern Iowa. Richard served as the CFO/Treasurer on the SVMHS Foundation Board of Governors for six years.
In the past, he was a board member and President of the Meadows Home Owners Association in Corral de Tierra. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
Learn more about Richard.
Joel Hernandez Laguna
Incumbent - Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare District, Zone 5
Joel Hernandez was born in Michoacán, Mexico and migrated to the US in the early 1990’s. He began volunteer efforts with the national radio network, Radio Bilingue 90.9FM station in Salinas, CA. He was part of the resident leaders involved in the designing the early stage framework of the East Salinas Building Healthy Communities Initiative of The California Endowment in 2010. Joel’s work as a volunteer neighborhood leader caused an impression at the Center for Community Advocacy (CCA) that, they hired him in 2012 to work as a farmworker trainer/organizer.
In 2016, Joel became CCA’s Lead Organizer responsible for CCA’s organizing work focused to continue developing farm-worker and low income families leadership to improve their housing and health conditions and providing a pathway for youth education opportunities in the Salinas and Pajaro Valleys. Additionally, he supports CCA’s Executive team with fund development. In 2018 Joel Hernandez was appointed to the City of Salinas Planning Commission. He also serves as a steering partner for Bright Futures of Monterey County.
Learn more about Joel.
Ray Montemayor
Incumbent - Hartnell Community College Board of Trustees, Area 5
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Learn more about Ray.
Leticia Garcia
Incumbent - Alisal Union School District Trustee, Area 3
Ms. Leticia García was appointed to the Board of Trustees in June 2021. She represents Area 3 of the District, which includes Creekside and John E. Steinbeck schools.
Ms. García’s first priority as public official is to increase student achievement and college and career readiness.
Ms. García was born in Salinas and has lived in the Alisal community for 15 years. She believes in the community and wants to see the students continue to flourish and reach their dreams by creating a solid foundation at the elementary level. She has a bachelor's degree in liberal studies (BCLAD) and a master's degree in education.
Ms. García has dedicated her adult life to education, and has worked as bilingual resource teacher, classroom teacher, assistant principal and principal. She was selected as Principal of the Year in 2019 from the Association of California School Administrators and has served in numerous committees including President of ACSA Salinas Valley Charter, Blue Zones, school site councils, restorative justice, and more.
Learn more about Ray.
Dr. Chris Hasegawa
Incumbent - Spreckels Union Elementary School District
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Learn more about Chris.
Peter Odello
Candidate - Spreckels Union Elementary School District
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Learn more about Peter.
JUNE 7TH - PRIMARY ELECTION
Joe Moses
Candidate - Monterey County Sheriff
Joe Moses joined the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy in 1994 and has dedicated his life to public service. Currently, Joe is the only Captain in the Sheriff's Office. He knows what it takes to deliver quality law enforcement for his community and what it takes to be the next Sheriff.
From a young age, Joe knew that he wanted to help people, and that desire turned into protecting Monterey County daily. He has been a resident of Monterey County for most of his life and has raised his family in this community.
Joe has served in every Bureau through every promotion – from Deputy to Captain. Along the way, he has learned what it means to manage and lead staff at the Sheriff’s Office to provide the services citizens expect and deserve.
Joe has earned numerous degrees perfecting his skills and knowledge, including a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, a Master of Science in Emergency Services Administration, a POST Management Certificate and a Senior Management Institute for Police certificate, to name a few. Improving every aspect of the Sheriff’s Office has been the driving force behind his professional career. These skills have been put to practice on the streets and in the jail, in the Chambers of the Board of Supervisors and in the backcountry of Big Sur with the Search and Rescue Team.
Joe remains committed to developing policies, procedures and programs to create efficient execution of Sheriff's Office duties, including making sure the Sheriff's Office is invested in diversity, equity and inclusion so that the department best reflects the community that it serves.
Jeannine Pacioni
Incumbent - Monterey County District Attorney
Ms. Pacioni received her Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University. After receiving her Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of San Diego, School of Law in 1990, she became licensed to practice law in the states of California and Arizona. In 1990, she worked as a Deputy District Attorney for the Kern County District Attorney’s Office and in 1992 she joined the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.
After resigning in 2001, she returned after an 8-year sabbatical during which time she served as a Grand Juror of the Monterey County Civil Grand Jury, and as President of the Junior League of Monterey County. In 2012, she joined the National Charity League of Monterey Bay, of which she served on their Board of Directors. During 2015-2021, she was a Board Member of the Monterey Rape Crisis Center.
Ms. Pacioni previously served as an elected Board Member of the California District Attorney Association and will resume this position in October 2021. Currently, she serves as a Board Member of the Monterey County Children’s Council, Child Abuse Prevention Council, Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, and is the founding member of the Monterey County Multi-Cultural Community Council. She is also a member of the Community Alliance for Safety and Peace, Coalition Against Human Trafficking, Sexual Assault Response Team, Monterey County Bar Association, National District Attorneys Association and the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.
Ms. Pacioni has devoted her entire legal career to the pursuit of justice while handling virtually every type of criminal case prosecuted in Monterey County. For 20 years as a prosecutor, she has tenaciously represented victims of crime in numerous high-profile cases involving murder, gang crimes, vehicular manslaughter, assault, robbery, child molestation, adult sexual assault, and elder abuse.
On November 21, 2019, Ms. Pacioni was recognized by the Monterey County Women Lawyers Association as the 2019 recipient of the Lady Justice Lifetime Achievement Award for Legal Advocacy and Community Service.
In 2019, she was elected and became the first female District Attorney in Monterey County.
Marina Camacho
Candidate - Monterey County Assessor/Clerk/Recorder
Marina Camacho has worked in the Assessor/Clerk/Recorder office for 32 years, and for the past six years, she has served as Assistant Assessor for Monterey County. She has served in almost every capacity in the office, giving her an unrivaled breadth of experience to serve as Assessor/Clerk/Recorder.
Marina began her career with the Monterey County Assessor’s office in 1989 as a clerk typist. Now, 32 years later she is running for office to serve as the Assessor/Clerk/Recorder in that same office she started in. In addition to her many roles in the office, she has held leadership positions for the past 17 years. She has led and trained staff, served as a Real Property Appraiser and a Change of Ownership Appraiser, was appointed to Administrative Services Assistant then promoted to Administrative Services Officer. For the past six years, she has served as the Assistant Assessor, responsible for managing the entire office, including assisting in building the annual budget.
Marina is a certified Appraiser, holding a California Board of Equalization Appraiser Certificate since 2000. She sits on the board of the California Assessors’ Administrative Services Association (CAASA), where she served as President from 2019-2021. She has also been a member of the California Assessors’ Association (CAA) Chief Appraisers of Real Property affiliate for six years.
Marina came from a farmworker family, and at the age of six, her parents moved their family to an agriculture labor camp in the Salinas Valley, just outside of Chualar, California. Both her parents would rise in the pre-dawn hours to get ready for work and return in the pre-dusk hours after a long day.
For the next eight years, they lived there and saved up enough to by their first house in the neighboring town of Gonzales. These years were incredibly impactful, as she learned firsthand the meaning of hard work, and she attributes her commitment, dedication, and work ethic to them. Most days, Marina is the first to arrive at the office and the last to leave - much like her parents.
Marina graduated from Hartnell College, and attended San Jose State and Chapman University. She lives in Salinas with her husband Gustavo Lopez, a teacher at Salinas High School. They have two children, Diego and Xochitl and two beautiful granddaughters, Alizay and Evangeline.
Kimbley Craig
Candidate - Monterey County Supervisor, District 2
Former Salinas City Councilwoman Kimbley Craig, is President & CEO of Monterey County Business Council. She leads the organization and specializes in forging cross-sector partnerships between private, public, and nonprofit agencies. She is also the current Executive Director for Leadership Monterey County.
Kimbley has balanced her progressive career with an unwavering commitment to Salinas. She is a Past President of the Salinas Jaycees. She later served two terms as Vice President of the California Jaycees. Kimbley is on the Salinas Rodeo Committee, and has held positions on the Board of Directors for the Junior League of Monterey County, Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monterey County, and SVMHS Heart & Sole 10K Race. She is a Hall of Fame Award recipient for Leadership Salinas Valley. Currently, she is a volunteer driver for ITN Monterey County, a driving service for seniors and low-vision residents. She is a founder of Monterey Bay Derby Dames, a local non-profit organizational women’s roller derby team for the Monterey Peninsula. Recently, she joined the Board of Directors for Hospice Giving Foundation, which promotes preparedness and dignified end of life care for individuals and their loved ones. She is a leadership trainer to local boards of directors on fiscal management, community outreach, and proper meeting procedures. She is widely recognized by her organizations for her ability to mobilize resources and volunteers.
Kimbley ran for office and was elected to Salinas City Council in 2010. She was reelected again in 2014, and served a successful second term until December 2018. She actively represented North Salinas in District #5, which encompasses nearly half (approximately $33 million dollars) of the city’s retail sales tax base. Kimbley maintained a balanced and responsible pro-business stance on City Council. She was the youngest woman ever elected to office in Salinas.
While she served on City Council, Mayor Joe Gunter had Kimbley appointed to 9 sub-committees:
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Transportation Agency of Monterey County – 2010-2018 (Chair – 2014, Executive Board 2010-2016)
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Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority
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Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau
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Rail Policy Committee
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Finance Committee
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Economic Development Committee
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Marketing Committee
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Legislative Committee (State and Federal legislation)
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Rodeo Committee
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Fireworks Policy Committee
Additionally, she was one of 32 public administrators (out of 800 applications) selected to participate in the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security Master’s degree program, and her thesis addresses the issue of human trafficking of migrant communities right here in Monterey County. She graduated in April 2019.
Kimbley and her partner Bobby live in Salinas with their Corgi, Lucy.