Candidate Endorsements

Community Water Center Action Fund (CWCAF) works to elect leaders who view the lack of safe and affordable drinking water in their communities as an environmental justice issue, and who seek to lift the burden currently faced by low-income communities of color who go thirsty under the weight of mismanagement, pollution, and scarcity. Endorsed candidates will value a model of co-governance, where community residents and local community-based organizations have the opportunity to engage in local decision-making by sharing their insights and directly contributing to policy. These candidates will follow through on their promise of accountability and prioritize the steps necessary to achieve drinking water solutions for their constituents. 

CWC Action Fund strategically endorses candidates who either:

  • Play a direct role in the distribution of water for a community in California’s San Joaquin Valley or Central Coast

  • Participate in creating local, regional, state and/or national policies that impact drinking water in California.

2026 Endorsed Candidates:

Randy Villegas

  • Randy Villegas is an educator, activist, and proud son of immigrants. Raised in a working-class family in Kern, California, Randy knows firsthand the challenges that many Central Valley families face.

    His journey - from earning a PhD to teaching and organizing for change - has been rooted in one core belief: our government should work for everyone, not just the powerful few.

    Randy was sworn in and appointed to be a trustee for the Visalia Unified Board of Education. He was then elected to his seat, becoming both the only Democrat and only Latino on the school board.

    With deep ties to his community and a lifelong commitment to justice and equity, Randy is running for Congress in California’s 22nd District to bring bold, compassionate leadership to Washington.

    Learn more about his campaign: www.villegasforcongress.com

Michael Tubbs

  • Michael Tubbs’ journey began in South Stockton. Michael’s mother gave birth to him when she was 16 years old, and Michael’s father has been incarcerated his entire life. Michael was raised by three forceful women – his mother, aunt, and grandmother. Despite the odds, Michael’s family and faith community instilled in him the values of resilience and service. That foundation paved a path from poverty in South Stockton to the classrooms of Stanford. He ran for political office while he was still a senior at Stanford, successfully campaigning for Councilmember for the City of Stockton District 6 at just 21 years old.

    In 2016, he was elected Mayor of Stockton at the age of 26. He was the city’s first African-American Mayor, and the youngest Mayor of any major city in American history. As Mayor, Tubbs was lauded for his leadership and innovation. He raised over $20 million dollars to create the Stockton Scholars, a universal scholarship and mentorship program for Stockton students. Additionally, he piloted the first mayor-led guaranteed income pilot in the country.

    Under his leadership, Stockton saw a 40% drop in homicides in 2018 and 2019 and led the state of California in the decline of officer involved shootings in 2019. Because of initiatives, investments, and work spearheaded by Michael, Stockton’s unemployment rate was near a record low at around 5.7% in 2019 – down from around 15% in 2012. It was even named the second most fiscally healthy city in California––after Michael saved the city from literal bankruptcy.

    Michael is running to be California’s next lieutenant governor to build a California future that sets the example for how government can work for everyone; that leads the nation in not just talking about problems, but solving them. It’s a future where education – whether vocational programs or college – is accessible to all without crippling debt. It’s a future with enough affordable housing so folks can afford to live here. And it’s a future where we leverage guaranteed basic income programs to end poverty and prevent homelessness.

    Michael Tubbs is the Special Advisor to California Governor Gavin Newsom for Economic Mobility; the Founder of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income; and the Founder of End Poverty in California (EPIC).

    Learn more about him: michaeltubbsforca.com

Esmeralda Soria

  • Assemblywoman Soria currently serves as Chair of the Agriculture Committee, and has held that position since 2023, she was recently reappointed as Chair by Speaker Robert Rivas in January of 2025. Soria also serves as a member of the Governmental. Organization, Banking & Finance, and the Economic Development, Growth & Household Impact committees.

    A first-generation and daughter of farm workers, Assemblywoman Soria knows firsthand about hard work and sacrifice, having worked alongside her parents in the Central Valley’s agricultural fields throughout her childhood. She then worked her way through college and law school. She was born and raised in the Central Valley.

    Prior to her work in the Assembly, Soria served as an educator, community advocate, and Fresno City Councilmember. As Councilmember, she led efforts to increase public safety and community development, create thousands of good-paying jobs, build affordable and accessible housing, tackle homelessness, and expand access to parks and greenspace.

    During her service in the Assembly, Soria worked quickly to address serious issues facing the Central Valley. In 2023, Assemblywoman Soria authored AB 112, securing $300 million dollars for the Distressed Hospital Loan Program, which helped disperse those funds to hospitals throughout the state at risk of closing or closed, and seeking to reopen. Over $50 million of that money would go to saving the Madera Community Hospital, a critically needed hospital in the Central Valley that had announced it was closing in 2022, later reopening its doors March 2025.

    Assemblywoman Soria also helped to secure $20 million dollars for flood recovery efforts in the unincorporated community of Planada after unprecedented storm surges hit the area in 2023.

    The Assemblywoman also fought to deliver millions of dollars in funding to the Central Valley for public safety, student housing, safe drinking water, parks and community centers, and agriculture. Assemblywoman Soria will continue fighting for the residents of the Central Valley while in Sacramento on the issues that matter the most to them.

    She resides in Fresno with her husband Terance, their 5 children, and her dog Buddy.

    Learn more about her soriaforcalifornia.com.

Eddie Valero

  • Supervisor Eddie Valero, first elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2018, serves as Tulare County Supervisor representing District 4, which includes the unincorporated communities of Badger, Cutler-Orosi, Elderwood, Goshen, Ivanhoe, London, Monson-Sultana, Seville, Three Rivers, Traver, and Yettem. The cities represented in District 4 include Dinuba, Woodlake, and a small portion of Visalia.

    A longtime resident of the Central Valley, Supervisor Valero left his hometown to obtain an Ivy League education and returned with the goal of prosperity for Tulare County residents. He has been working with the greater North County to positively impact at-risk youth, particularly fatherless young men, throughout the Central Valley. Supervisor Valero’s education in City and Regional Planning along with public service experiences over the years have prepared him to serve District 4. He is a servant leader who believes in community voice and collaboration while valuing ideas and interests.

    Supervisor Valero was elected to the Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District in 2012 and served as School Board President for three consecutive years, 2016–2018. He is a native of Cutler-Orosi, graduated from Orosi High School in 2000, and completed undergraduate and graduate degrees from Cornell University. He also participated in the Woodrow Wilson Junior Summer Institute at Princeton University and obtained graduate training in conflict resolution studies at Georgetown University.

    An academic at heart, Supervisor Valero taught Foundations of Education and Introduction to Teaching in the School of Education at Fresno Pacific University. He has also taught Art of American Education at Fresno City College. He is a member of the Dinuba Chamber of Commerce and facilitates their Leadership Northern Tulare County and is a proud Woodlake Kiwanian.

    Supervisor Valero resides in Dinuba with his Goldendoodle, Sugar, and his Labradoodle, Lincoln.

    Learn more about him at eddievalero.com

Hipólito Cerros

  • Hipolito Cerros is a former Mayor of the City of Lindsay and a proven leader committed to serving the Central Valley. Raised in a rural community, Hipolito understands firsthand the challenges facing working families and communities of color. He is passionate about ensuring rural and minority communities have the strong, authentic representation they deserve.

    Hipolito is dedicated to expanding access to clean and affordable water, protecting and strengthening agriculture, broadening educational opportunities, and advancing progressive values that uplift everyone. With a track record of leadership and community trust, he is ready to bring a bold, inclusive voice to the Central Valley.

Destiny Rodriguez

  • Destiny Rodriguez is the Vice President and Trustee (Area 1) of the State Center Community College District (SCCCD) Governing Board, elected in 2022. She brings more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit work, with a career dedicated to advancing environmental justice, public health, and equitable policy across California’s Central Valley. Prior to joining the Board, she worked with organizations including The Climate Center, Central Valley Air Quality Coalition, Coalition for Clean Air, and the National Parks Conservation Association.

    As a Trustee, Rodriguez has played an active leadership role in advancing policies and resolutions that expand student supports and equitable access to education. Her work includes championing childcare funding to help student parents remain enrolled, supporting Board goals that prioritize diversity, equity, accessibility, and employee well-being, and advancing workforce-focused construction agreements designed to increase local hiring and opportunities for underrepresented communities. She has also supported district-wide commemorations and inclusion initiatives, such as Black History Month and Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, and serves on ad-hoc governance committees while participating in regular Board deliberations shaping district policy.

    In addition to her Board service, Rodriguez serves as Director of Operations at the Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative (CVIIC). In this role, she oversees organizational operations including administrative systems, financial management, and human resources, ensuring efficient, mission-aligned day-to-day functioning. Reporting to the Executive Director, she supervises staff, strengthens internal infrastructure, and supports organizational continuity and growth.

    Rodriguez is also a graduate of the WELL Fellowship, Class of 2024, further reflecting her commitment to leadership development and community-centered governance.

Manpreet Kaur

  • Manpreet Kaur is a proud daughter of the Valley. She is the Vice Mayor. A Professor. A City Planner. Born and raised here, she is committed to building a future where our community can thrive. A public school product from PreSchool to Grad School, she didn’t wait for change; she created it.

    Kaur founded a youth leadership nonprofit, mentoring hundreds of young people and training

    the next generation of leaders. When unfair redistricting threatened to divide Punjabi, Latino, and Black communities, she stepped up and led the successful fight to keep neighborhoods united and protect their collective voice.

    In 2022, she made history as the first Sikh Punjabi woman elected to the Bakersfield City Council. Just two years later, she was unanimously elected Vice Mayor by her Council colleagues. She is a coalition builder, delivering results, strengthening neighborhoods, expanding affordable housing, investing in youth, and making City Hall more accountable.

    Manpreet believes the government should serve people, not special interests.

    She knows real change takes courage: the courage to stand up, to challenge broken systems, and to lead with integrity. She’ll use every tool to fight for a united, thriving Valley where working-class communities can prosper for generations to come.

    Manpreet is a proud graduate of Ridgeview High School in Bakersfield, CA. She then attended UC San Diego, the first in her family to leave home for college. She later obtained two Master’s degrees, one in City Planning and the other in Public Policy, from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

    As Vice Mayor, Manpreet leads the charge for the innovation and historic efforts taking place at the City of Bakersfield.

    On the Bakersfield City Council, Kaur is:

    Chairwoman of the Housing and Community Development Committee. Manpreet serves on the City’s Water Resources Committee. Manpreet serves on the Central Valley’s only Community Land Trust to increase local access to homeownership for first-time homebuyers.

    Kaur represents the most rapidly growing district in the City of Bakersfield and continues to

    promote new housing developments and family businesses growing in her constituency.

Note: Community Service Districts (CSDs) and Public Utility Districts (PUDs) do not participate in primary elections, so endorsement will only need to be considered for general elections.

Note: CWCAF is not required to endorse candidates just because they have been endorsed by the organization before or are part of the Community Water Leaders Network. All candidates will go through the same endorsement decision process for each election they participate in.