Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections And Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Three supervisors sworn in at San Joaquin County; new members emphasize public safety and partnerships
Summary
Mario Gardia, Sunny Dhaliwal and Robert Rickman were sworn in at a special Jan. 6 meeting of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors and used their remarks to highlight public safety, clean streets and collaboration with local governments and service providers.
San Joaquin County held a special meeting on Jan. 6, 2025, to swear in Mario Gardia, Sunny Dhaliwal and Robert Rickman as members of the Board of Supervisors and to hear brief public comments and congratulatory remarks.
The oath of office was administered by Judge Aaron E. Guy Castillo. Mario Gardia, who said he has worked as a Stockton firefighter, told the board he intends to focus on public safety and neighborhood conditions: "I'm super excited...representing the community I grew up in" and "The community wants public safety. The community wants clean streets. The community wants just a better place to live," Gardia said. Olivia Hale, the county registrar of voters, presented the certificate of election to Gardia after the oath.
Supervisor Sunny Dhaliwal said he was "deeply honored and humbled" by voters' trust and pledged to work with federal, state and local partners and county staff to deliver services. Supervisor Robert Rickman, sworn in to a second term, thanked voters and family and said he would focus on controlling the rising cost of living and related issues, including concerns about utility rate increases and gasoline prices that he cited during his remarks.
Community members and regional officials used the public-comment period to congratulate the new supervisors and to press the board on specific local concerns. Pat Barrett, a resident, said, "San Joaquin is a great county. You know? Stockton is a great city." Manny Grewal of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors praised Dhaliwal's election and the region's growing diversity. A representative of Colorado Post 16 American Legion urged continued support for veterans and said, "The suicide rate is too high." Other speakers who offered congratulations included city officials, nonprofit leaders and representatives of local labor and community groups.
The meeting included an invocation and a benediction by Dave Madura, identified in the meeting as CEO of Gospel Center Rescue Mission. The board chair noted plans to celebrate San Joaquin County's 175th anniversary later in the month and said the board intends to highlight health care, youth and education as strategic priorities for the year. The meeting adjourned with a scheduled reconvening on Jan. 14 and a moment of recognition for former president Jimmy Carter and Stockton firefighter Robert "Bobby" Van Rooten.
The proceedings were ceremonial; no new policy measures or budget actions were taken at the Jan. 6 meeting.
