Meet Your Portuguese-American Elected Officials in California: Dennis Mederos
Dennis Mederos was born and raised on a farm west of Tulare. He is a graduate of Tulare Western High School, COS, and he graduated from UCLA. He attended San Joaquin College of Law in Fresno and after being admitted to the practice of law began his law practice in Tulare in 1980. Mederos has been an attorney, business owner and agricultural farmer in Tulare for over 35 years. He has served on the Board of Trustees of the Tulare County branch of the American Cancer Society, t
Meet Your Portuguese-American Elected Officials in California: Richard Fagundes
Supervisor Richard Fagundes was born on December 10, 1941, raised and still lives on the original family farm in Hanford, Calif. He attended Kings River and Hanford High School. In 1962, he married his wife Shirley and they have 7 children. Richard Fagundes has been very active in a variety of Portuguese-American associations, such as: the Lemoore Trinity Association for 18 years, St. Anthony of Pismo Committee, Tulare Festa Committee, Pacific Tractor Pullers Association and
Meet Your Portuguese-American Elected Officials in California: Ernest "Buddy" Mendes
Ernest “Buddy” Mendes grew up on his parents’ dairy farm in Riverdale in Western Fresno County. Buddy has been farming in the Central Valley for 38 years. He was a working partner in the family farming and dairy business and has owned and operated his own family farming business since 1991. Buddy has been very active in the local community, serving 20+ years on a variety of Boards and Committees including the Riverdale Unified School District Board of Trustees, Southwest Tran
Meet Your Portuguese-American Elected Officials in California: Dan Tavares Arriola
Dan Tavares Arriola has just been elected to the city council in Tract. He is a Tracy School Board Trustee and a Deputy District Attorney for San Joaquin County. After graduating from West High School, Dan continued to pursue his education and graduated as the Political Science Valedictorian of UCLA in 2011 and as the Student Body President of USC Law School in 2014. When he is not advocating for justice in San Joaquin County, Dan is very active in the community and serves on
Meet Your Portuguese-American Elected Officials in California: Brian Pacheco
Supervisor Brian Pacheco was designated as Chairman of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors on January 9, 2017. Brian Pacheco is a fourth-generation family farmer and dairyman in Fresno County with roots in the Azores islands. Brian graduated from Kerman High School and attended the University of California, Davis. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics. Supervisor Pacheco is a strong advocate of public education and excellence in our local schools. He was
Meet Your Portuguese-American Elected Officials in California: Scott Silveira
Scott Silveira was born and raised in Los Banos and graduated from Dos Palos High School. Scott’s family have been dairymen for three generations and today, he and his wife Brooke as well as their two children carry on that noble tradition. Scott has been active in the community both as a public servant and as a volunteer. He serves on the Merced County Spring Fair Board, the Merced County LAFCO. Commission, and the Los Banos City Council. In addition to public service, Scott
Meet Your Portuguese-American Elected Officials in California: Melvin Oliveira
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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