Resident Tommy Sue Cordova defends Gilbert Alvarado and criticizes $130,000 investigation spending

During public comment at the Dec. 2 Shafter City Council meeting, resident Tommy Sue Cordova identified herself as a classroom teacher and urged the council to consider Gilbert Alvarado’s record and character while noting she did not know the specifics of the allegations. She said she is "forever thankful" for Alvarado’s help to her family and that she finds it "hard to believe that he had any malice or ill intent in whatever it is that he's being accused of." Cordova said she was upset that the council voted to spend about $130,000 of taxpayers’ money to investigate Alvarado when other community items had been denied funding.

A second resident who spoke after Cordova said they have known Gilbert Alvarado for years and reiterated that the community does a lot of volunteer work and had not expected the city to spend that magnitude of taxpayer funds on the investigation. Both speakers said the details of any allegations had not been made public and expressed concern about the use of funds.

Council members did not provide a substantive response during the public comment period; Council Member Alvarado thanked those who spoke on his behalf later in the meeting. No official inquiry results or findings were presented during the meeting.

The comments were entered into the public record during the meeting’s public comment period; any investigative findings or formal staff reports were not part of the meeting record presented on Dec. 2.