Local officials, legislators touch base at Government Affairs meeting

Thursday morning, around 9 a.m., a small group of local officials and government representatives gathered in the Chamber of Commerce conference room for the monthly Government Affairs meeting.

Among those in attendance were Cole Karr, a field representative for Congressman Kevin Mccarthy, Rogelio Caudillo, the district representative for State Senator Andy Vidak, John Lollis, Porterville’s city manager, and Monte Reyes, the president and CEO of Porterville’s Chamber of Commerce.

The first to report was Caudillo, who stated that the state Senate is out of session and is catching up with the district. He also advised the group that Senator Vidak had supplied a letter of support to Monache High School for the Ag Mechanics program.

Lollis followed Caudillo, and informed the group that this year’s local elections were by-district, and quickly ran through the local one-cent tax increase measure known as Measure I.

Lollis also provided a fun short quiz regarding facts about the city. Questions on the quiz included the amount of money in the city’s annual road maintenance budget ($4 million), how much the state of California has taken from the city over the past five years ($10 million), and the amount of money in the City’s current General Funds budget ($27 million).

Next to speak was Cole Karr who informed the group that the President has signed a water infrastructure bill. Karr also stated that legislation regarding opioids has been signed.

Reyes was the last to speak. He mentioned the Summit Charter Intermediate Academy ribbon cutting that took place Thursday.

The Government Affairs meeting occurs monthly on the last Thursday of the month at 9 a.m. in the Chamber of Commerce conference room.