After 28 years in elected office, County Supervisor Simon Salinas is retiring. He's held his current seat, representing District 3—which includes all of South County, the largest geographically of the county's five districts—for three terms.
Salinas ran unopposed in 2014 and 2010, making this 2018 open seat a rare opportunity for candidates to run for the position without having to face off against an incumbent. So far, two have announced campaigns: Salinas' chief of staff, Chris Lopez, who's making his first attempt at elected office, and Soledad City Councilman Alejandro Chavez, who was first elected to that position since 2010.
Chavez also served as chief of staff to former county supervisor Fernando Armenta until Armenta was unseated in 2016, giving Chavez and Lopez similar training when it comes to navigating county policy and bureaucracy, and responding to constituent concerns.
Chavez is currently the executive director of Salinas United Business Association. He is married to Erica Padilla-Chavez, an elected member of the Hartnell College board of directors.
If it remains a two-man race, the election will be decided in the primary, June 5. If more candidates throw their hat in the ring, there may be a runoff election in November.
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