MADERA – Just seven months after the Madera Unified School District Board of Trustees was restored to full strength following the 2017 resignation of Trustee Al Galvez, the seven-member board is again down one member. This time, one of the two senior trustees has resigned his position, 10-year board veteran Ric Arredondo.
Arredondo, who announced his intent to resign to his fellow board members and district staff weeks ago, resigned his position on the board Friday morning as he is moving out of the area he has represented since 2009. In a press release sent to BVN Thursday, Arredondo announced he would make a run for the Madera County Board of Supervisors District 4 seat currently held by Max Rodriguez.
Arredondo is the second person to announce his intent to run for Rodriguez’s seat. In June, Medical Social Worker Ron Montoya announced he would run against Rodriguez in next March’s 2020 primary election. Rodriguez has not announced if he would seek another term but is widely believed in the Madera County Government Center that the 81-year-old County Supervisor would endorse his current Chief of Staff, Leticia Gonzalez when she announces her run for the position later this summer.
Arredondo said in a prepared press release Friday, “Over the past 10 years, I've had the privilege of serving our community on the Board of Trustees for the Madera Unified School District. I have learned about California’s complex educational system, budgets, and the role of board members. It has been a time of personal growth and I have had an incredible opportunity to meet many fine people in, and around our district. Therefore, it is with a sense of sadness and excitement that I announce my resignation to pursue a seat on the Madera County Board of Supervisors."
Arredondo says he is confident in the current MUSD administration and that the board is being left in capable hands. He believes the board and superintendent are working together better than ever. “We have a dynamic team of administrators that are setting high standards, and the cooperative spirit is bearing fruit. Test scores are rising. The district is pulling together in the belief that we will soon be among the highest performing in the state." Arredondo added.
In order to run for the county supervisor seat, Arredondo needed to move into the Madera County Supervisorial 4 District. Previously to his move, he lived in the Madera County District 3 area. "If elected supervisor, I will continue working to improve our community through sensible and sound governance. Together, we are stronger. Together, we can build a robust economy and infrastructure that will lead to a prosperous community."
