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Louis Fuentes
Louis Fuentes ran in a special election to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to represent District 1 in California. He lost in the special primary on April 8, 2025.
Fuentes completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Louis Fuentes was born in Calexico, California. Fuentes earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1998 and an associate degree from the University of Oklahoma in 2005. His career experience includes working as a CEO. Fuentes has been affiliated with Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) SBA program.[1]
Elections
2025
See also: Municipal elections in San Diego County, California (2025)
General election
Special general election for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 1
Paloma Aguirre defeated John McCann in the special general election for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 1 on July 1, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Paloma Aguirre (Nonpartisan) | 53.9 | 42,026 | |
 | John McCann (Nonpartisan) | 46.1 | 35,943 | |
| Total votes: 77,969 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Special nonpartisan primary for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 1
The following candidates ran in the special primary for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 1 on April 8, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John McCann (Nonpartisan) | 42.4 | 28,087 |
| ✔ | Paloma Aguirre (Nonpartisan) | 32.3 | 21,424 | |
| Vivian Moreno (Nonpartisan) | 13.5 | 8,934 | ||
| Carolina Chavez (Nonpartisan) | 7.7 | 5,128 | ||
 | Louis Fuentes (Nonpartisan) | 1.6 | 1,053 | |
| Elizabeth Efird (Nonpartisan) | 1.5 | 1,027 | ||
 | Lincoln Pickard (Nonpartisan) | 0.9 | 619 | |
| Total votes: 66,272 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Fuentes in this election.
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 51
Incumbent Juan Vargas defeated Juan Hidalgo in the general election for U.S. House California District 51 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Juan Vargas (D) | 71.2 | 109,527 |
 | Juan Hidalgo (R) | 28.8 | 44,301 | |
| Total votes: 153,828 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 51
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 51 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Juan Vargas (D) | 64.0 | 50,132 |
| ✔ | | Juan Hidalgo (R) | 15.3 | 11,979 |
| John Renison Jr. (R) | 14.0 | 10,972 | ||
 | Juan Carlos Mercado (Independent) | 3.1 | 2,452 | |
 | Kevin Mitchell (Independent) | 1.9 | 1,473 | |
| Louis Fuentes (R) | 1.7 | 1,310 | |
| Total votes: 78,318 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Louis Fuentes completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Fuentes' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Previously, Louis was the founding President & CEO of the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation, representing California’s economic interests at state congressional hearings. He has been featured in LA Times, San Diego Union, CSPAN, and Univision. In 2005, Mexico’s Secretary of the Economy recognized him for contributions to border economic development.
Elected to the Calexico City Council in 2006, he became the city’s 100th Mayor (2008-2009). In 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger invited him to co-host a White House Health Care Forum. That same year, he was one of four U.S. mayors selected to brief Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. Appointed to the Imperial County Board of Supervisors in 2009, he served as Chairman in 2010-2011 and later led the U.S.-Mexico Border Counties Coalition.
Louis chaired the California Energy Commission’s 2016-2017 Task Force on Online Permitting and Contractor Licensing.
He holds a degree in Development Studies and Economics from UC Berkeley, an Economic Dev Professional, a licensed HVAC contractor, and resides in Chula Vista, CA, with his wife and three children. A black belt in Aikido, Karate, and Jujitsu, he remains dedicated to community improvement.- I have experience as a County Board of Supervisor already. Serving as Chairman and Chair of the US Mexico Border Counties Coalition. I understand county government, dealing with the State and Federal Government and local elected officials. My experience gives me a unique advantage that other candidates do not possess. I understand how to navigate the system and I understand what the position limitations are. I have worked with community leaders of all political backgrounds, activists, and stakeholders to bring forth solutions in the past and I can do so again for the residents of my District 1.
- Safety of our residents: From kids, young adults to the elderly. The most vulnerable of our communities need to feel they are safe. Safe in schools, on the streets, at the park, walking around the neighborhoods, at social events. Enhancing our Districts funding for First responders, so that they are better equipped to handle everyday issues that may arise and that they are well prepared for emergencies.
- Public Health: All the social services that the County can provide need to be coordinated better with those in the neighborhoods working with people in those neighborhoods. There has to be a better integration of public-private service providers so that the people that need help the most can get it. Depression and anxiety is so rampant after Covid 19 that our kids have not been able to cope and really excel in their daily lives.
Park and Recreation Access Policies
Government Finance
He did all of this barely speaking English.
He was a man of unbreakable honesty, high moral values, a man of his word and loved his wife and children deeply. He sacrificed being away from his family almost 6 months out of the year following the lettuce crop up and down the California coast, from Imperial Valley to Salinas and then back down.
He left me his name and I will live up to it.
Compassion
Open Mind
Discipline
Leadership & Governance
Executive Leadership
Public Service Commitment
Decision-Making Authority
Strategic Vision & Policy Expertise
Economic Development Focus – Advocated for jobs, infrastructure, and cross-border economic growth.
Policy Influence
Regulatory Knowledge
Community & Public Engagement Committment
Bipartisan Collaboration
Media Presence
Advocacy & Representation Committment
Resilience & Integrity
Proven Track Record of Getting Projects Done
Problem-Solving Ability
Executive Leadership – Served as Mayor, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and President/CEO of major organizations.
Public Service Commitment – Held multiple elected and appointed positions, showing dedication to public welfare.
Decision-Making Authority – Led government bodies, economic development initiatives, and policy reforms.
Strategic Vision & Policy Expertise
Economic Development Focus – Advocated for jobs, infrastructure, and cross-border economic growth.
Policy Influence – Advised state and federal officials, including testifying before Congress and briefing Homeland Security.
Regulatory Knowledge – Led a statewide task force on contractor licensing and permitting compliance.
Community & Public Engagement
Bipartisan Collaboration – Worked with governors, federal agencies, and local leaders across party lines.
Media Presence – Featured in major news outlets, demonstrating strong communication skills.
Advocacy & Representation – Championed rural and border communities, ensuring their concerns were heard at higher levels.
Resilience & Integrity
Proven Track Record – Appointed by the governor, elected multiple times, and trusted in high-stakes roles.
Problem-Solving Ability – Tackled complex issues like energy policy, economic growth, and border security.
Executive Leadership – Served as Mayor, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and President/CEO of major organizations.
Public Service Commitment – Held multiple elected and appointed positions, showing dedication to public welfare.
Decision-Making Authority – Led government bodies, economic development initiatives, and policy reforms.
Strategic Vision & Policy Expertise
Economic Development Focus – Advocated for jobs, infrastructure, and cross-border economic growth.
Policy Influence – Advised state and federal officials, including testifying before Congress and briefing Homeland Security.
Regulatory Knowledge – Led a statewide task force on contractor licensing and permitting compliance.
Community & Public Engagement
Bipartisan Collaboration – Worked with governors, federal agencies, and local leaders across party lines.
Media Presence – Featured in major news outlets, demonstrating strong communication skills.
Advocacy & Representation – Championed rural and border communities, ensuring their concerns were heard at higher levels.
Resilience & Integrity
Proven Track Record – Appointed by the governor, elected multiple times, and trusted in high-stakes roles.
Problem-Solving Ability – Tackled complex issues like energy policy, economic growth, and border security.
If we expect our constituents to trust what we are doing with their taxpayer money, we have to be open about where it is being spent.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
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Candidate San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 1 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 24, 2025
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State of California Sacramento (capital) |
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