Q&A with Dinuba City Council Ward 1 candidate Manuel Mejorado

DINUBA – This November, contests for city council races, school board elections and local bond measures will be listed lower on the ballot, but they are not any lower in importance. 

Local elections are often decided by just a handful of votes, highlighting the impact of each individual’s voice in the community. In Dinuba, residents who want to see change in their cities, be that improved roads, increased public safety or more commercial and residential development, will have the chance to vote on city council candidates promising to bring something new to the area. 

The Dinuba City Council is made up of five residents who are elected by districts, referred to in Dinuba as wards. Up for reelection this year is Ward 1 and Ward 5; however, only one candidate, incumbent Linda Launer, filed for reelection in District 5, and was automatically appointed in-lieu of an election because of that.

In Ward 1, which encompasses the southeast corner of the city, east of College Avenue and south of Park Way, resident Manuel Mejorado is running for the seat against Vice Mayor Rachel Nerio-Guerrero. Nerio-Guerrero was first elected to the council in November 2020; she received 54.2% of the vote over resident Joshua Huerta. 

California voters can use the Secretary of State’s online voter registration tool at registertovote.ca.gov to register to vote or check their status. Voters in Tulare County can use an online district lookup tool through their respective county elections office to enter their address and find what Congressional, state and county districts they live in.

Mejorado provided Mineral King Publishing with written responses about his background and his goals for the next four years if he is elected Nov. 5. Interview responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.

Q: What is your background?

MEJORADO: I’m 47 years old, married for 28 years with four children, three girls and one boy. I’ve been so SoCalGas for 23 years, and am currently a construction inspector. I’ve been a coach since 1996 at all ages from 5 to high school; recently I am the girls varsity golf coach at Dinuba High School.

Q: What do you hope to change or accomplish in the next term, if elected? 

MEJORADO: I’m hoping to help the city not just grow but retain businesses. Help existing homeowners maintain their property rights. Find ways to assist the growing homeless population around the city. 

Q: Who is supporting/endorsing your campaign, and who are the major funders of your campaign? 

MEJORADO: I’ve been endorsed by existing City Councilman Benny Prado, and also the Tulare County Republican Party. (Major funders are) the Tulare County Republican Party.

Q: What do you see as the top three issues facing your local community right now? What would you do to address those issues? 

MEJORADO: Growing homeless population, businesses having to close, zoning for housing, utility increased cost.

Q: What does the role of a city councilperson look like to you? How would you engage with the community and respond to residents’ needs?

MEJORADO: A city council person is someone active within the community on many fronts, not just the ones that concern their district. They continually look for ways to engage everyone so that voices are not silenced just because someone didn’t agree with them. 

Every voice matters. There are several local gatherings and opportunities to meet the community. It may even be necessary to organize gatherings just so people have somewhere to go to voice their concerns. Social media is large with the younger adults and should also be utilized when reaching the community. 

Q: Anything else to add? 

MEJORADO: The community needs choices, and needs to be united in goals for itself. What are those goals? I don’t know, but I know there (have) not been attempts to gather the community and take feedback in large gatherings. We need to be a loud voice again; I’m hoping to bring that back.