ESMERALDA SORIA | PRESIDENT

Regional Board Member, Central | City of Fresno

Esmeralda was born and raised in Tulare County by Mexican immigrant parents who believed in the American Dream for their children. She found her passion for law and community work at a young age; she attended the University of California, Berkeley for her undergraduate degree and earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Davis, School of Law, focusing on immigration law. In 2015, her passion for community work and social justice drove her to run and obtain the title of Councilmember for District One in Fresno.

Growing up in the Central Valley, Soria takes pride in serving the community and advocating for her constituents. As an active member of her community, she was able to distinguish the needs of her diverse constituency. As a Councilmember, she has focused on affordable housing, creating jobs, and providing Fresno youth opportunities to grow personally and professionally.

Her accomplishments include:

Secured $38 million dollars from the state for an affordable catalytic housing development. The Link located on Blackstone and McKinley, includes 88 housing units, a health clinic, and the City of Fresno’s first Senior Center.

Full restoration of Quigley Park and funded new parks to the Dakota/Milburn and Echo/Weldon areas.

Reestablished the City of Fresno Youth Commission; this program encourages youth to have a voice in shaping and developing social, economic, recreational, and educational programs that serve youth.

Negotiated a $115 million-dollar Project Labor Agreement to fund FAT Forward, an airport expansion for the City of Fresno.

Motioned for a new Regional Fire Training Center in the City of Fresno that would be funded by the American Recovery Fund. The State of California awarded $25 million dollars for the project to serve as a central hub for fire training in the state.

Councilmember Soria was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve on his Transition Team and his Homeless Taskforce. As a member of Newsom’s transition team, Soria has voiced the needs of the central valley. Her role on the Homeless Taskforce will help the houseless community in the state to find a place to call their home.

Most recently, Councilmember Soria was elected to serve as the President of the League of California Cities Latino Caucus. As President, she looks forward to ensuring that Latino families are shaping policy that will affect our communities.

Over the past six years, Soria has made a tremendous impact on District One, we hope to see her legacy of uplifting and community work continue.

Boards/Committees
Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Fresno, Chair
Fresno Revitalization Corporation, Chair
CA Latino Economic Institute, Boardmember
Fresno Joint Powers Financing Authority, Boardmember *
Governor Gavin Newsom’s Homeless Taskforce
Local Government Commission, Boardmember
Fresno State College of Social Sciences Dean’s Council Member

League of CA Cities
Latino Caucus, President

City Council Committees
Association for the Beautification of Highway 99
Budget Sub-Committee
Cannabis Ad Hoc Committee
CDBG Sub-Committee
Census/Redistricting Ad Hoc Committee
Code Enforcement Sub-Committee
COVID-19 Plan Committee
Fresno EIFD Public Financing Authority
Homeless (HEAP Funding Plan) Sub-Committee
Litigation Exposure Reduction Ad Hoc Committee
Parks & Public Safety Subcommittee
Special Events Ad Hoc Committee
Sub-Committee on Transportation

Sister City
Sister City Ambassador to Cheateauroux, France

Previous Boards Served
Access Plus Capital
City Council City & County Adhoc Committee
City Council iDEFER Committee
Fresno Area Workforce Investment Corporation Board*
Fresno Innovative Charter Schools, Dailey Elementary School
Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board Executive Committee*
Governor Gavin Newsom’s Transition Team
League of CA Cities, South San Joaquin Valley Division
League of CA Cities, Transportation, Communication, and Public Works Committee, Chair
RDA Transition Subcommittee

* Representing the City of Fresno