

Meet Your Portuguese-American Elected Officials in California: Gary Soiseth
Mayor Gary Soiseth was elected to serve a four-year term as the 22nd Mayor of Turlock on November 4, 2014. In addition to being a third-generation family farmer, Mayor Soiseth is the Regulatory Administrator of water and energy policy at the Modesto Irrigation District.
Mayor Soiseth has taken the lead on two important issues to Turlock: transportation and drinking water. Mayor Soiseth serves as Turlock's representative and the Vice Chair of the Stanislaus Council of Gover


Meet Your Portuguese-American Elected Officials in California: Craig Pedersen
Supervisor Craig Pedersen has Kings County most of his life. He was born in Reno Nevada to parents Robert and Mardell Pedersen while his father attended the University of Nevada Reno on a Football and Track Scholarship. After his father graduated in 1962, he made the decision to forgo a Professional football career and return to Lemoore to join the family farm, unknowingly setting a lifelong path in Agriculture for Supervisor Pedersen. He attended Armona Elementary, Hanford


Meet Your Portuguese-American Elected Officials in California: Jimmy Dutra
Jimmy Dutra, 38, was born and raised in Watsonville, where he attended Salesian Sisters, E.A. Hall Middle School and graduated Watsonville High School in 1993. He then attended Santa Clara University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1997. While at Santa Clara University Dutra was chosen among thousands of applicants to be a White House Intern for President Bill Clinton. While at the White House Dutra worked in the Office of Presidential Personnel

California Portuguese-American Coalition 2nd annual Summit
The Second annual Portuguese-American Leadership Summit organized by the California Portuguese-American Coalition and sponsored by FLAD (Fundação Luso-Americana para o Desenvolvimento) to be held on June 13th and 14th in Sacramento will feature a welcome luncheon on Wednesday, June 13th at the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento. During this luncheon the Strategic Plan for the Teaching of the Portuguese Language and Cultures in California will be formally presented. Among other Cal

Meet Your Portuguese-American Elected Officials in California: Laura Bettencourt
Laura Bettencourt has been an Antelope Valley resident since 1985. She was elected to her first term for City Council on May 19, 2009 and re-elected on November 3, 2009, and again on November 8, 2016. Bettencourt currently works as a crime analyst for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and has done so for 19 years. She previously worked for Northrop Grumman at Site 4 on the B2 Bomber project. For the past 17 years, Bettencourt has also worked as an adjunct instruct

Meet Your Portuguese-American Elected Officials in California: Luis Freitas
Luís Freitas was born on the island of Flores in the Azores (Portugal) on September 5, 1953. He has been married to Maria Fatima Freitas for over 40 years. They have two children, Mark and Nicole, and three granddaughters, Madison, Marisa and Makenzie. He has been a resident of Newark for over 40 years. Government Experience: Newark City Council (Elected 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011) Newark Vice Mayor 1998, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2016 Board Member – Alameda County Waste

Meet Your Portuguese-American Elected Officials in California: David Macedo
Tulare City Council District 4 Public Service: First elected to Tulare City Council in November 1998, and reelected in November 2002. Served as Vice Mayor from December 2000 to December 2002, and Mayor from December 2002 to December2004. Community and Other Service/Recognitions Include:
Third generation Tularean, who has won several national auctioneering competitions and contributes those talents, as well as time, to a variety of organizations, including: Valley Children's


WELCOME TO CPAC!
As a non-profit organization, our mission is to unite Portuguese-American elected officials and civic leaders in order to facilitate stronger collaboration in the advancement of the interests of the Portuguese-American community in California. In order to help us focus our efforts on the issues that matter most to the Portuguese community in California, we hope that you will take a moment to complete our short survey and share your priorities! Click Here> CPAC Portuguese-Amer