New county supervisors sworn into office today

Two members of the Kings County Board of Supervisors are now out the door.

In their place comes new faces, who will be sworn into office during a special meeting today.

They are Richard Valle, a former district director for former Democratic Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, and Richard Fagundes, a ranch foreman and father of deputy district attorney Keith Fagundes.

Valle, a Corcoran resident, will replace Jon Rachford, who recently retired after 12 years on the board serving District 2. Fagundes will replace Alene Taylor representing District 5, defeating the incumbent in November following controversies surrounding her initial support for hosting a state prisoner re-entry facility in east Hanford.

On Tuesday morning, the new board will hold a regular meeting.

Heading the agenda is the appointment of a new member to the Local Assessment Committee, an advisory body that is currently finalizing its task to negotiate special compensations for the community with Waste Management, which is proposing to expand its hazardous landfill capacity.

Supervisors are considering to appoint Alvaro Preciado, of Avenal to the committee.

Lack of Latino representation has long been criticized by opposition groups that are boycotting the process calling it illegal.

Preciado was among the demonstrators who showed up to Kettleman City on Dec. 6, when consultants to the committee held a community meeting as part of the effort to wrap up the committee's community outreach task.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

(Jan. 5, 2009)