New chair of Merced County supervisors selected – but not without criticism
The Merced County Board of Supervisor unanimously selected Rodrigo Espinoza on Tuesday as its new chair – after criticism from a community member.
Alicia Rodriguez, a longtime community volunteer in Planada, spoke during public comment at the meeting.
“I am here to say that I publicly mistrust Espinoza,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said she was prompted to speak publicly because of Espinoza’s behavior toward her at recent Planada Municipal Advisory Council meetings.
Rodriguez told the board Espinoza made false statements about her work within the community during a MAC meeting the previous week. She told board members that Espinoza left her feeling humiliated.
“I find him to be hostile and intimidating, and I have been documenting several offensive incidents that have taken place since the supervisor took his position,” Rodriguez told the board.
Rodriguez told the board she has attended Planada MAC meetings for 25 years and served on the board at times. “I shouldn’t feel uncomfortable about my right to attend my community meetings because he chooses this way of degrading my character,” Rodriguez told the board.
Espinoza responds
Following his election to chairman, Espinoza spoke of his 18 years in public office and responded to Rodriguez’s comments.
He said that he did not believe he was disrespectful at the MAC meeting, and did not intend to offend anybody. “It was a public meeting and I have witnesses that will say otherwise,” Espinoza said to the Sun-Star. He did not elaborate on what specifically occurred at the MAC meeting.
Espinoza noted that receiving criticism is inherent to being a public servant. “We don’t make everybody happy,” he said. “After we get elected, there’s always people who aren’t pleased but there’s always two sides.”
Municipal Advisory Councils are comprised of residents from census-designated places in the county. They meet to advise their district’s supervisor on issues of public health, safety and public works. Espinoza’s District 1 includes Planada.
The chairman of the Board of Supervisors is elected annually to preside over meetings and act as a leader for the board. District 2 Supervisor Lee Lor is serving as vice chair of the board.
District 4 Supervisor Lloyd Pareira, Espinoza’s predecessor as board chair, reflected upon successes in homelessness and road conditions before passing the leadership seat to Espinoza.
Espinoza said he believes he has done a great, but not perfect, job as supervisor the past three years.
“I think that most people are happy (with me) and will continue to be that way,” Espinoza said.
Up for reelection
Espinoza is up for reelection this year, with drug and alcohol counselor Sonia Alshami challenging him for District 1.
Espinoza said he hopes for the continued support of not just his district, but all of Merced County.
“The public is the last judge and jury,” Espinoza said. “If people don’t like the way I am, they have the chance to not vote for me.”
Rodriguez’s criticism wasn’t the first time Espinoza has faced political heat.
He was criticized in 2017 for sharing a video on his Facebook page disseminating a decades-old anti-Jewish conspiracy theory. He later deleted the Facebook post.
Espinoza was accused in 2018 of making unwanted advances against a woman and touching her without consent. Espinoza had been acquainted with the woman for more than a decade, and said he believed she wanted to pursue a romantic relationship.
A jury found him not guilty of misdemeanor battery.
This story was originally published January 17, 2020 at 2:55 PM.
