Porterville honors outgoing mayor Martha A. Flores and Vice Mayor Kelly Carrillo; Carrillo reflects on term

The Porterville City Council recognized outgoing Vice Mayor Kelly Carrillo and Mayor Martha A. Flores for their service during a public ceremony at the start of the meeting.

Vice Mayor Kelly Carrillo reflected on her four-year term, citing family, tribal connections and the unusual crises the city faced while she served. “When I say this is my hometown, it has a stronger meaning than just my hometown,” Carrillo said, recounting being born locally, attending local schools and describing her commitment to what she called her “homeland.” She thanked staff, tribal leaders and family members and described working through the pandemic, a major fire and a subsequent flood during her term: “To go through those three things alone in four years is unheard of for a small city, and I feel like we've done extremely well,” she said.

Carrillo also shared that a recorded prayer in her native language — previously used at her swearing-in during the pandemic — had been offered again in remembrance of an elder who had since died, and she described efforts to keep tribal culture visible in city events.

Council and members of the public also delivered remarks in thanks. Multiple residents and community leaders, including Gary Santos of the Tule River Scribe and Cheyenne Needham (vice chairman, Tule River Tribe), publicly thanked Carrillo for her work on tribal relations and civic engagement.

Mayor Martha A. Flores received an award and brief remarks from council members recognizing her eight years on the council, including service as mayor. In her remarks she thanked staff and family and said she will remain involved in the community: “I am not done. I will always continue to be involved in our community,” Flores said.

The recognitions were presented before the council moved into formal reorganization business.