Name: Michael M. Vargas

Position: City Member, Chair

Email: [email protected]

Bio: Michael was born and raised in Los Angeles. He is married to Julie Vargas, and they have four daughters and six grandchildren. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and attended Pasadena Community College.

Michael is a retired Police Sergeant from the Los Angeles School Police Department. During his 30 years of service, his assignments included but were not limited to: Campus Officer, Patrol Officer, Watch Officer, Field Training Officer, Field Sergeant, and Watch Commander. He spent time working in the emergency operations center, as well as the department’s technology unit. He actively participated in reviewing school safety plans, served on the dignitary protection detail, and acted as a liaison between school administration and law enforcement officials.

Michael continued his public servant duties and locally served as a Public Safety Commissioner for the City of Perris from 2007-2011. On November 2, 2010 Michael was elected into office as a Governing Board Member for the Val Verde Unified School District Board of Education. Michael was a great asset to the Board and so well liked by the community that he was re-elected for a second term on November 4, 2014. By great demands from Michael’s constituents he ran for Mayor for the City of Perris and was elected into office on November 8, 2016.

In addition to his Mayoral duties, Michael sits on the Riverside County Transportation Committee, March Joint Powers Authority Committee, Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency, and Exceed Board of Directors. Michael was appointed to the Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission as the Regular City Member in January, 2019.

Michael’s memberships include the following organizations: National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, League of California Cities, International Council of Shopping Centers, League of United Latin American Citizens Riverside Council 3190, President of the Perris Valley Democratic Club, Riverside County Democratic Party Immigration Reform Committee. Perris Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

As a parent, grandparent, community member, and tax payer Michael has a vested interest in ensuring that the City of Perris is safe, provides good jobs, affordable housing, and supports the growth of the youth so that they can continue to succeed in life. He supports labor organizations, and looks forward to continue working together to better the community.

Name: Yxstian Gutierrez

Position: County Member, Vice-Chair

Email: [email protected]

Bio: Dr. Yxstian Gutierrez (Pronounced IX-tian similar to Chris-tian) is Riverside County’s 5th District Supervisor, a former local mayor, teacher, and community leader who is serving to improve and protect the things that make Riverside County such a special place to live. Riverside County is the 10th largest County in the United States with over 2.5 million residents – larger than the population of 13 states.

Yxstian has served County Supervisor since 12/05/2022 and 7 years as a local Mayor. He is the first directly elected Mayor in the city’s history. He also served as a professor at National University and a current professor with California State University San Bernardino. He previously served on Moreno Valley’s City Council, owned and operated the Berrybean Cafe, taught in the Moreno Valley Unified School District, and worked as a reading instructor at Moreno Valley College.

Yxstian sits as a Board Member of the Inland Empire Health Plan (largest Medicaid plan in the US), Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG), Riverside Transit Agency, Riverside County Transportation Commission, Riverside County University Medical System, Flood Control, and several other regional boards. He was appointed to the Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission as the Regular County Member in January 2023. He also serves on the board for the Renu Hope Foundation, as a local board member for the U.S. Selective Service, and as a 1st Lieutenant (CA) with the 163rd Support Group stationed at March Air Reserve Base.

Yxstian grew up in Moreno Valley and learned the value of public education while attending Armada Elementary School, Landmark Middle School, and Valley View High School. He went on to earn an associate degree from Moreno Valley College, a bachelor’s degree from California Baptist University, a master’s degree in Education from American InterContinental University, and a doctoral degree in Special Education from Northcentral University.

Yxstian is also an alumnus of USC’s Executive Education in Public Policy program and USC’s Executive Education program in Strategic Analysis in Achieving Competitive Advantage. He also recently graduated from the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership program.

Name: Kevin Jeffries

Position: County Member

Email: [email protected]

Bio: Kevin Jeffries was elected in November 2012 to represent the residents of the 1st Supervisorial District, which includes about two-thirds of the City of Riverside, as well as Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, and Canyon Lake, and unincorporated communities such as Temescal Valley, Mead Valley, Lake Mathews, Good Hope, Lakeland Village, DeLuz, LaCresta, and Tenaja.

A resident of Riverside County since 1971, Kevin is a successful local small business owner and served 29 years as a volunteer firefighter and six years in the State Assembly.

Kevin and his wife Christina have two adult children, and reside in Lakeland Village near Lake Elsinore.

Name: Stephen J. Tomanelli

Position: Public Member

Email: [email protected]

Bio: Stephen Tomanelli is the Owner-Operator of Computer Care which was established in 1986. Computer Care is a Sole Proprietorship Company specializing in computer sales and service. He served in the United States Navy from 1969-1973.

His public service includes:
Director, High Valleys Water District
1994-2003
Served as Treasurer, Vice-President and President
Developed to serve the residents of the Twin Pines and Poppet Flats community, High Valleys Water District is a Special Government Water District that receives its funding from its customers, as well as, County Assessments. Having no natural water resource, High Valleys Water District pumps the water purchased from the City of Banning, 8 miles up the mountain through 3 separate booster stations, into 3 storage tanks and 40 miles of pipe, to deliver this resource to its approximately 225 customers.

Commissioner, Public Member
Riverside County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO)
2005 – Present
Vice-Chair 2010; 2017-2023 and Chair 2011-2012

California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions (CALAFCO) Elected to the Board in 2012 and served until 2015 holding the positions of Treasurer, Secretary and Vice-Chair.

Treasurer, Board Member Renu Hope Foundation Renu Hope Foundation was founded 14 years ago by first acquiring a small preschool program of 17 children at one location and now has grown to serve children at ten locations throughout Riverside County. Renu Hope Foundation is a 501(c) (3), nonprofit entity governed by the Board of Directors who represent local, state and national government and businesses who share a common interest in providing much needed child care and education services in the communities of Riverside County. Renu Hope Foundation provides child care and education services to children ages 6 weeks to 12 years of age whose families meet the eligibility criteria.

Name: Steve Sanchez

Position: City Member

Email: [email protected]

Bio: At the age of 19, Steve enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as an Infantryman. He served 8 years (1996-2004) with deployments in Asia and a combat tour during the ground invasion in Iraq (2003). His time with the Marines taught him about team-work, detailed planning and looking at the big picture to achieve the goal. And as they say, “Once a Marine, always a Marine.” He’s a patriot, loves his country, and his community; service above self is something he truly believes in.

Currently, Steve is a businessman. His post military career has taken him from the telecommunication industry; a district director for a state legislator; a salesperson for a radio station group and a billboard company. He is now as a successful commercial real estate agent focusing on apartment buildings and income properties.

Steve is a current and past board member for many local non-profits. After overcoming different adversities in his life, and through the help of his family and friends, He spends a majority of his time reaching out and helping others. He is the Past-Chairman for the Indio Chamber of Commerce, a past-board member for the La Quinta Chamber of Commerce, a former Big Brother with the Big Brother and Big Sisters of the Desert, as well as a current board member for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Desert, Leadership Coachella Valley, Young Scholars Association, and a volunteer for numerous local charities. Steve was appointed to the Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission as the Regular City Member in May, 2018.

Steve is passionate about fitness and living a healthy lifestyle. If you’re up at 4am in La Quinta, you can usually see Steve out running to start his day. He travels to compete in half marathons around the country. La Quinta offers a variety of terrains for him to train on any day of the week. He is also an animal lover and being a parent to several dogs has taught him many things about love and compassion.

Steve is fascinated by the history of Ancient Rome, Greece, England, and the American Revolution; while also having a soft spot for mathematics. He has a love for spoken word, and has tried to learn as many languages as possible. In his youth, he studied French and Arabic and is currently learning Russian. Steve believes language is a fascinating thing to study, and it has taught him a lot about focusing, attention to detail and the ability to communicate the right words at the right time.

Name: Stephen Corona

Position: Special District Member

Email: [email protected]

Bio: Steve Corona grew up in Cucamonga, CA and attended Alta Loma High School, graduating in 1975. He then attended Pepperdine University, graduating in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

After working for Wells Fargo Bank, Steve returned to the family farm in 1981. Steve is currently President of Corona Ranch, diversified farming operation in Temecula, CA growing grapefruit, avocados, onions, sod, and hay. The Corona family also operates the Big Horse Feed Store and puts on their famous Corn Maze that benefits local and military non-profit organizations.

In 2001 Steve was elected to the Board of the Rancho California Water District, a position he held for 16 years and was its President 3 times. Corona has also participated in other boards and committees including the Riverside County Farm Bureau, Riverside County General Plan Advisory Committee, Citrus, Vineyard SWAP Committee 1989, Elsinore, Murrieta, Anza Resource Conservation District, President –Temecula Valley National Little League and is on the Board of the Upper Santa Margarita Irrigated Lands Group. Steve was elected to the Riverside County Local Agency Formation Commission as the Regular Special District Member in March 2023. Steve also participated as a coach for Temecula Valley National Little League, Murrieta National Little League, and Temecula Youth Basketball League.

Name: Bruce Underwood

Position: Special District Member

Email: [email protected]

Bio: Bruce C. Underwood, Dr. P.H., C.N.S. is a Trustee for the Coachella Valley Public Cemetery District where he is serving his second term. Dr. Underwood has extensive experience in Special District governance, including past service on the Coachella Valley Recreation and Park District Board, and the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District Board. In addition to his roles in governance, he has also worked directly with several districts to support employee healthy living initiatives. Dr. Underwood was appointed to the Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission as the Regular Special District Member in July of 2024.

Professionally, Dr. Underwood is President of Healthy Futures and a preventive doctor, nutritionist who has dedicated his life to health and healing, while providing integrated lifestyle counseling in the areas of addictive behaviors, exercise, nutrition, and stress for the prevention and treatment of chronic and degenerative diseases. Dr. Underwood has been a resident of the Coachella Valley for more than 30 years. He earned his doctorate in preventive care and his second master’s degree in public health nutrition from Loma Linda University. He earned his first master’s degree in exercise physiology from the University of Kansas – Lawrence campus. Dr. Underwood’s interest is in nutrition and exercise as it relates to adults. During his career, he became the Executive Director of the Heart Institute of the Desert Foundation and served as Director of Fitness and Tennis at the Health & Racquet Club at PGA WEST. Dr. Underwood has served as a preventive care professional with various fitness/medical/wellness facilities across the Coachella Valley.

Name: Harvey Ryan

Position: Alternate Special District Member

Email: [email protected]

Bio: Harvey Ryan has been a Lake Elsinore resident for over 35 years and has actively been involved in the community and local public service. Not only has he served on the City Planning Commission and the Lake Elsinore RDA, but he has also contributed to local organizations as the Vice President of Little League to being the President of the football boosters. His involvement extends to volunteering with HOPE, a local food distribution organization, and currently presides as the Board President of the Kennedie June Von Ryan Foundation. He has thrived in the business sector, with a successful track record in the automobile industry—managing and owning businesses for over 25 years.

In 2005, Harvey was elected to the Board of Directors for Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, a position he has held for the past 19 years serving as Board President 4 times. Director Ryan has served on several committees, and as District representative for multiple organizations, including: Legislative, Conservation & Outreach, Finance & Administration Committee, Engineering and Operations Committee, Water Planning Committee, Groundwater Advisory, EMWD Group, Lake Elsinore Chamber of Commerce (including Student of the Month and Year), ACWA Region 9, and several others. Harvey was appointed to the Local Agency Formation Commission as the Alternate Special District Member on May 6, 2024.

Name: V. Manuel Perez

Position: Alternate County Member

Email: [email protected]

Bio: Victor Manuel Perez was appointed by Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. on May 9, 2017 to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, representing the County’s Fourth District, and was subsequently elected to a four-year term in June 2018. The Fourth Supervisorial District covers the eastern two-thirds of Riverside County, stretching from Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs, south to the Salton Sea and east to Blythe and the Colorado River.

Manuel is grateful for the opportunity to serve in this important position, and looks forward to contributing his experience in local and state government to work on behalf of families and every community in the Fourth District.

In January 2019, Manuel was appointed to the Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) as the Alternate County Member. He previously served on the Commission in 2017.

Born and raised in the Coachella Valley, the son of immigrant farmworkers, Manuel attended local public schools and graduated from the University of California, Riverside. He taught at a local middle school, and went on to earn a Master of Education degree in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University.

He worked as a youth advocate and director of community health and advocacy for Santa Rosa Del Valle- Borrego Health, at Centro Medico Coachella and Centro Medico Oasis. From 2004 to 2008, he served on the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees, where he led the passage of a $250 million bond to construct and renovate schools in the eastern Coachella Valley.

In 2008, Manuel was elected to the California State Assembly, representing eastern Riverside County and Imperial County. Entering office during the great recession, he worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the Governor’s Office to bring forth fiscal accountability, health care reform, renewable energy growth and job creation legislation.

A champion for eastern Riverside County, Manuel had more than 60 pieces of legislation signed into law to help create jobs, jumpstart the local renewable energy industry and make neighborhoods safer. His legislation focused on jobs, economic development, small business, education, health care access, infrastructure, renewable energy, transportation, air quality, environment, public safety, parks, technology, agriculture, water and the Salton Sea.

In the Assembly, Manuel became majority leader and worked closely with the Assembly Speaker on the day-to-day functions of the statehouse. He served as the chairman of the Jobs and Economic Development Committee, founding Vice Chair of the Select Committee for the Status of Boys and Men of Color as well as Chair of Stimulus, Economic Recovery and Jobs (SERJ).

After serving three terms in the State Assembly, Manuel continued his public service with election to the Coachella City Council. Prior to his appointment to county supervisor, he was Chief Government and Public Affairs Officer for Borrego Health, a federally qualified health center serving the under-served in San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

Manuel resides in his native city of Coachella with Gladis, his wife of 21 years. They have two sons, Ruben, who graduated from UC Davis and Alejandro, who attends UC Santa Barbara.

Name: Jim Love

Position: Alternate Public Member

Email: [email protected]

Bio: Jim Love, Vice President, Beaumont Electric Inc.
Electrical Industry – 38 years
Beaumont Electric – 23 years
Procuring Contracts, Estimating, Project Management

Jim Love has been a managing officer of Beaumont Electric Inc. (BEI) since its inception. Jim is the founder and visionary for BEI and has always been on the forefront of securing future projects for the company. His knowledge of the electrical trade has been the driving force for the company’s growth in various fields of electrical construction, including cellular phone sites, wastewater treatment plants, large school sites, sports and street lighting and hospitals. He authored and continues to consult the City of Beaumont’s outdoor lighting ordinance. Jim’s knowledge of electrical systems and value engineering continues to propel the company forward. Jim has served as Alternate Public Member on the Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission since 2009.

Name: Linda Molina

Position: Alternate City Member

Email: [email protected]

Bio: Current Affiliations:
Calimesa Council, serving second term (2016, 2020). Re-election in 2024
Commissioner, RCTC, Chair, Budget & Finance Committee {1st Vice & Chair)
Riverside Transportation Agency, 7 years, Immediate Past Chair of the Board, Budget & Finance Committee member, 7 years
SCAG, Director, Transportation Committee, 2 years
Board Member, Riverside Support Committee, Riverside National Cemetery, 2024
Member of 4 Chamber of Commerce organizations, Calimesa, Beaumont, Banning and Yucaipa, currently.
2024 Riverside County Division President, Cal Cities; Cal Cities Policy Committee member, Transportation, Communication & Public Works, 3 years
Member Calimesa Breakfast Lions Club, served as President, Secretary, Chair of the Budget & Finance Committee, Region Chair over 10 clubs, Zone Chair over 5 clubs
Appointed to the Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission as the Alternate City Member in May 2024.

PAST AFFILIATIONS:
Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, employee 18 years, Union Rep,
Completed Newly Elected Institute, Trustee
Completed 4 years Governance Training, Trustee
Attended Newly Elected Council Training
Completed 3-Year Professional Development Program for Continuing Education for Public Officials
Completed Advanced Institute for Professional Development for Continuing Education for Public Officials
Habitat For Humanity Board of Directors
Boys & Girls Club Board Member San Gorgonio Pass Area