What does a county supervisor do?
County supervisors are the elected officials that oversee the county government, which is responsible for administering state- and federally-funded social welfare programs such as CalFresh (commonly known as food stamps), Medi-Cal and the foster care system. The county has limited control over how these programs are run.
The supervisors have much more direct control over the county's unincorporated areas — which make up a majority of the area outside Imperial County's seven incorporated cities.
The Board of Supervisors is also the ultimate decision-making entity with regards to land use permit applications, zone changes, general plan amendments, ordinance revisions, and the adoption of a revised general plan.
How much does a county supervisor get paid?
As of 2025, supervisors' total salaries ranged from $62,000 to $66,000.
Source: California State Controller
California’s 2026 midterm elections will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Get general information about the election, news coverage, an interactive ballot guide and results on election day.
District 1
← Go back to your ballot in the Voter Hub
The candidates
| Enrique "Kiki" Alvarado |
- Party: Republican
- Professional background: Alvarado is currently a criminal investigator with the Imperial County Public Defender’s office. He previously worked as a county probation officer.
- Top three priorities:
- Public safety
- Economic revitalization
- Community health
- Imperial County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association
- Imperial County District Attorney Investigators Association
- Calexico Police Officers’ Association
Alvarado has reported spending around $2,500 so far on his campaign, but he has not made it clear where that money is coming from in campaign filings from May. Alvarado has not reported receiving any donations or loans since filing to run for office. So far, he said he’s spent the money on yard signs, banners, t-shirts and postcards.
You can track the most recent filings yourself through the Imperial County Primary Election portal.
💡 How to find the data:
You can track the most recent filings yourself through the Imperial County Primary Election portal.
💡 How to find the data:
- Scroll down to the "Candidate Filings" section and click on the specific district (e.g., Supervisor District 4).
- All candidates will be listed there with the forms they have filed thus far.
- Find the most recent Form 460 for a candidate. Make sure it's not from years prior to 2025. Pay close attention to the "Statement covers period" dates at the top of the form you want the latest available time period.
- Check Line 5, Column B on the Summary Page to see the "Calendar Year to Date" total. This automatically combines the contribution amounts from previous months.
- Go to Schedule A to see donor names and other details
| Jesus Eduardo Escobar |
- Party: Democrat
- Professional background: Jesus Eduardo Escobar is the current District 1 supervisor and was elected in 2018. He previously served on the Calexico City Council. He worked as a bank manager for 16 years and currently works as a U.S. customs broker, according to his county biography.
- Top three priorities:
- Investing in New River improvements
- Reinvesting in downtown Calexico
- Improving county-maintained roads and bridges in Calexico
- Imperial County Democratic Party
- Imperial County Firefighters Association
- Imperial County Sheriff Fred Miramontes
As of July, Escobar had spent over three times more than he received in campaign donations this year. He received close to $1,500 and spent almost $6,500, including on social media work and other campaign materials.
You can track the most recent filings yourself through the Imperial County Primary Election portal.
💡 How to find the data:
You can track the most recent filings yourself through the Imperial County Primary Election portal.
💡 How to find the data:
- Scroll down to the "Candidate Filings" section and click on the specific district (e.g., Supervisor District 4).
- All candidates will be listed there with the forms they have filed thus far.
- Find the most recent Form 460 for a candidate. Make sure it's not from years prior to 2025. Pay close attention to the "Statement covers period" dates at the top of the form you want the latest available time period.
- Check Line 5, Column B on the Summary Page to see the "Calendar Year to Date" total. This automatically combines the contribution amounts from previous months.
- Go to Schedule A to see donor names and other details
None
The issues
Escobar, the incumbent supervisor, is currently facing allegations that he sexually harassed a subordinate over the course of several years.
In a lawsuit against Escobar and the County of Imperial last year, former Board of Supervisors Clerk Blanca Acosta accused Escobar of making unwanted sexual comments and touching her head, face and neck without permission. On one occasion, Acosta alleged that Escobar kissed her without warning in his office. Acosta also alleges that county officials knew Escobar had harassed her but failed to prevent the behavior. Instead, Acosta claims they retaliated against her by placing her on administrative leave and eventually firing her in 2024.
In court filings, Escobar has denied all of Acosta’s allegations.
KPBS asked the candidates to respond to the allegations against Supervisor Escobar and describe the steps they would take if elected to prevent sexual harassment at the county level.
In a lawsuit against Escobar and the County of Imperial last year, former Board of Supervisors Clerk Blanca Acosta accused Escobar of making unwanted sexual comments and touching her head, face and neck without permission. On one occasion, Acosta alleged that Escobar kissed her without warning in his office. Acosta also alleges that county officials knew Escobar had harassed her but failed to prevent the behavior. Instead, Acosta claims they retaliated against her by placing her on administrative leave and eventually firing her in 2024.
In court filings, Escobar has denied all of Acosta’s allegations.
KPBS asked the candidates to respond to the allegations against Supervisor Escobar and describe the steps they would take if elected to prevent sexual harassment at the county level.
- Alvarado called the allegations “deeply troubling” and said they deserve to be evaluated in court. As supervisor, he said he would support utilizing independent, third-party auditors to handle harassment complaints, implement mandatory interactive training for all elected officials and department heads and strengthen the county’s whistleblower policies.
- Escobar categorically denies all of Acosta’s allegations. He said he would continue to fight what he called “frivolous” and “malicious accusations” in court. Escobar did not respond to KPBS’ question about what steps he would take prevent sexual harassment in county government.
Since last year, Imperial County has seen a fierce debate over a massive data center complex that has been proposed by a Huntington Beach-based developer, Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing (IVCM).
Escobar, the incumbent supervisor, recently voted to approve a key lot merger for the project. KPBS asked the candidates to share whether they support the project and development of data centers in the Imperial Valley as a whole.
Escobar, the incumbent supervisor, recently voted to approve a key lot merger for the project. KPBS asked the candidates to share whether they support the project and development of data centers in the Imperial Valley as a whole.
- Alvarado said he would oppose IVCM’s data center because of how close it would be to homes and an elementary school. He also expressed concern about the speed of the county’s approvals and the potential impact on utility infrastructure. He said he would support other data center projects if they went through an environmental review process, reached out to residents and entered legally-binding community benefit agreements. “We need industry that serves the Imperial Valley, not industry that just uses it,” Alvarado said.
- Escobar, after voting to approve the lot merger, has reversed course on data center development. He now says that it raises “numerous red flags,” including about energy consumption, water needs and potential industrial accidents. Escobar has asked for the Board of Supervisors to consider holding a special election that would give Imperial County voters the ability to ban data centers on county land.
Well-paying jobs with good benefits and stable employment are hard to come by in Imperial County, which regularly reports the highest unemployment rates in California.
KPBS asked the candidates what steps they would take to improve access to well-paid jobs.
KPBS asked the candidates what steps they would take to improve access to well-paid jobs.
- Alvarado said he would focus on expanding vocational training and apprenticeship programs for lithium extraction and renewable energy through partnerships with Imperial Valley College and San Diego State University. He said he would also push for a local hire ordinance on county-funded infrastructure projects.
- Escobar said he is in favor of introducing a more industrial economy alongside the Valley’s agriculture sector. He said he supported sustainable jobs and professional growth, but did not outline specific steps that he would take as supervisor.
Like most of California, Imperial County has seen a steep rise in the cost of renting or purchasing a home in recent years. The number of people who have fallen into homelessness has also grown significantly over the last decade, although it has fluctuated in recent years.
KPBS asked the candidates what their plans were for addressing the housing shortage and homelessness.
KPBS asked the candidates what their plans were for addressing the housing shortage and homelessness.
- Alvarado said he would strengthen the county’s partnership with the Imperial Valley Continuum of Care, the regional homelessness organization, and local advocacy groups like the Brown Bag Coalition. He said he would also push to streamline permitting for affordable, multi-family homes and to seek state grants like Project Homekey for converting underutilized housing.
- Escobar said he wanted to create a public-private partnership to address homelessness and public safety in downtown Calexico. He blamed funding cuts that shifted responsibility for psychiatric hospitals from the federal to state government.
Imperial County is one of many counties across the United States with a shortage of adequate medical care. Just two regional hospitals, El Centro Regional Medical Center and Pioneers Memorial Hospital, serve over 180,000 residents. Both facilities face heightened financial risks following federal cuts to Medicaid funding last year.
KPBS asked the candidates what steps they would take to improve healthcare access.
KPBS asked the candidates what steps they would take to improve healthcare access.
- Alvarado said he would focus on expanding community health clinics and bringing a reliable, permanent emergency room back to Calexico. He said he would also push for an increase in county funding for mobile health units and use regional incentive programs to try and recruit more specialized medical providers.
- Escobar touted his support of a state bill that created the regional Imperial Valley Healthcare District while criticizing the local tax measure that funds it for placing what he described as an additional burden on Brawley and Calexico residents. He did not outline specific steps he would take to improve healthcare access if reelected.
Imperial County consistently sees high levels of air pollution, especially in cities like Calexico and El Centro. The region also has one of the highest rates of asthma hospitalization and emergency room visits for school-aged children in California, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
KPBS asked the candidates what steps they would take to address air pollution and improve air quality.
KPBS asked the candidates what steps they would take to address air pollution and improve air quality.
- Alvarado said he would “aggressively pursue” state and federal funding to pave unpaved roads and install advanced air filtration systems in local schools. He said he would also try to work closely with the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District to enforce strict environmental standards for large-scale industrial projects.
- Escobar said he would consider requiring in-depth environmental analyses of all major development projects with unknown air quality impacts. He also said he would look at limiting or eliminating agricultural field burn days and would continue outreach about enforcement of agricultural field burning in the Mexicali Valley. And Escobar said he would look at encouraging use of better dust suppression technology.
Imperial County is home to the Imperial Regional Detention Facility, one of the seven U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in California. The detention center has a record of violating ICE’s own health standards. Since the Trump administration took office, two immigrants have died after experiencing health issues at the facility.
California has given county officials the authority to inspect ICE detention centers. So far, Imperial County supervisors and health officials have not used that power, according to immigrants’ rights groups.
KPBS asked the candidates how they would engage with the Imperial Regional Detention Facility and whether they would invoke their authority to inspect the facility.
California has given county officials the authority to inspect ICE detention centers. So far, Imperial County supervisors and health officials have not used that power, according to immigrants’ rights groups.
KPBS asked the candidates how they would engage with the Imperial Regional Detention Facility and whether they would invoke their authority to inspect the facility.
- Alvarado called the deaths “a grave concern that demands transparency.” He said he would not wait for any further complaints but would call for the Board of Supervisors to direct county health officials to conduct regular, unannounced visits of the detention center. “We must ensure that everyone — regardless of their legal status — is treated with basic human dignity and has access to adequate medical care,” he wrote.
- Escobar criticized "multiple issues” related to the Imperial Regional Detention Facility, including a property tax arrangement KPBS revealed this year that cost the county $6 million in tax revenue. He did not outline specific steps that he would take and did not respond to KPBS’ question about whether he would invoke the county’s inspection powers.
District 5
← Go back to your ballot in the Voter Hub
The candidates
| John Hawk |
- Party: Republican
- Professional background: Hawk is a current Imperial County supervisor. He was elected in 2022. He also receives income from two family businesses, Horizon Farms and Alamo Equipment, both of which are valued at over $1 million.
- Top three priorities:
- Infrastructure
- Jobs
- Public parks
- Fred Miramontes, Sheriff Imperial County
- Mike Pacheco, Mayor of Holtville
- Ray Castillo, Retired District 5 Supervisor
Hawk has raised a significant amount of money compared to other supervisor candidates — and has spent even more. According to campaign filings, as of June 30 he’s raised $14,400 and spent over $25,000 this year on video production and yard signs.
You can track the most recent filings yourself through the Imperial County Primary Election portal.
💡 How to find the data:
You can track the most recent filings yourself through the Imperial County Primary Election portal.
💡 How to find the data:
- Scroll down to the "Candidate Filings" section and click on the specific district (e.g., Supervisor District 4).
- All candidates will be listed there with the forms they have filed thus far.
- Find the most recent Form 460 for a candidate. Make sure it's not from years prior to 2025. Pay close attention to the "Statement covers period" dates at the top of the form you want the latest available time period.
- Check Line 5, Column B on the Summary Page to see the "Calendar Year to Date" total. This automatically combines the contribution amounts from previous months.
- Go to Schedule A to see donor names and other details
| Patricia "Patty" Lizarraga |
- Party: Democrat
- Professional background: Patricia Lizarraga worked at the Imperial County Auditor-Controller’s Department for 25 years and retired earlier this year.
- Top three priorities:
- Public safety & animal control
- Economic development
- Accountability & fiscal stewardship
- Jack Terrazas, Former County Supervisor for District 2
- Norma Jauregui, Former Mayor of Brawley
Lizarraga has also raised a significant amount of money this year, over $10,000, and has spent almost all of it, according to campaign filings from August. A large fraction of that money, almost $6,000, came from the political arm of the United Domestic Workers of America. The labor union represents homecare and childcare providers.
You can track the most recent filings yourself through the Imperial County Primary Election portal.
💡 How to find the data:
You can track the most recent filings yourself through the Imperial County Primary Election portal.
💡 How to find the data:
- Scroll down to the "Candidate Filings" section and click on the specific district (e.g., Supervisor District 4).
- All candidates will be listed there with the forms they have filed thus far.
- Find the most recent Form 460 for a candidate. Make sure it's not from years prior to 2025. Pay close attention to the "Statement covers period" dates at the top of the form you want the latest available time period.
- Check Line 5, Column B on the Summary Page to see the "Calendar Year to Date" total. This automatically combines the contribution amounts from previous months.
- Go to Schedule A to see donor names and other details
The issues
Since last year, Imperial County has seen fierce debate over a massive data center complex proposed by a Huntington Beach-based developer, Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing (IVCM).
KPBS asked the candidates to share whether they support the project and development of data centers in the Imperial Valley as a whole.
KPBS asked the candidates to share whether they support the project and development of data centers in the Imperial Valley as a whole.
- Hawk recently voted to approve a key lot merger for the project and defended his vote to KPBS. He said he would love to see it in another location on a personal level, but as a supervisor he needed to “follow the permitted use in an industrial zone.” Hawk added that he supports data centers in the Lithium Valley area around the Salton Sea, where they could rely on geothermal power.
- Lizarraga said she supports “responsible economic development,” including data centers. But she said the public deserves “full transparency,” including a complete environmental review and clear answers about water use, energy demand and community impacts.
Well-paying jobs with good benefits and stable employment are hard to come by in Imperial County, which regularly reports the highest unemployment rates in California.
KPBS asked the candidates what steps they would take to improve access to well-paid jobs.
KPBS asked the candidates what steps they would take to improve access to well-paid jobs.
- Hawk said he was looking to the Lithium Valley and Gateway Port of Entry projects as future sources of jobs. He pointed to job training curriculums at Imperial Valley College and San Diego State University.
- Lizarraga said she would advocate for job training programs in renewable energy, logistics and health care. She said she supports expanding partnerships with local colleges and workforce agencies and would also push companies that receive public support to commit to fair wages and local hiring.
Like most of California, Imperial County has seen a steep rise in the cost of renting or purchasing a home in recent years. The number of people who have fallen into homelessness has also grown significantly over the last decade, although it has fluctuated in recent years.
KPBS asked the candidates what their plans were for addressing the housing shortage and homelessness.
KPBS asked the candidates what their plans were for addressing the housing shortage and homelessness.
- Hawk said the county’s behavioral health department has surveyed unhoused communities and is trying to relocate people into shelters “as they are available.”
- Lizarraga said she would focus on expanding partnerships with cities, nonprofits and state agencies to increase access to transitional and supportive housing. She said she would support stronger oversight of county programs and streamlining the permitting process for affordable housing.
Imperial County is one of many counties across the United States with a shortage of adequate medical care. Just two regional hospitals, El Centro Regional Medical Center and Pioneers Memorial Hospital, serve over 180,000 residents. Both facilities face heightened financial risks following federal cuts to Medicaid funding last year.
KPBS asked the candidates what steps they would take to improve healthcare access.
KPBS asked the candidates what steps they would take to improve healthcare access.
- Hawk pointed to the new Imperial Valley Healthcare District, which is in the final stages of combining Pioneers Memorial Hospital in Brawley with El Centro Regional Hospital.
- Lizarraga said she plans to improve collaboration between the county, local clinics and regional healthcare providers with a focus on primary care, mental health services and preventative care. She also said she supports increasing mobile health services for rural and underserved neighborhoods.
Imperial County consistently sees high levels of air pollution, especially in cities like Calexico and El Centro. The region also has one of the highest rates of asthma hospitalization and emergency room visits for school-aged children in California, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
KPBS asked the candidates what steps they would take to address air pollution and improve air quality.
KPBS asked the candidates what steps they would take to address air pollution and improve air quality.
- Hawk touted the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District’s monitoring work throughout the valley, particularly of the Mexicali air basin.
- Lizarraga said she would advocate for stronger monitoring of air quality standards, along with more transparent reporting and enforcement. She would support more partnerships for dust mitigation, clean energy projects and community health programs. She also said she would aim to prevent more industrial projects in polluted neighborhoods.
Imperial County is home to the Imperial Regional Detention Facility, one of the seven U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in California. The detention center has a record of violating ICE’s own health standards. Since the Trump administration took office, two immigrants have died after experiencing health issues at the facility.
California has given county officials the authority to inspect ICE detention centers. So far, Imperial County supervisors and health officials have not used that power, according to immigrants’ rights groups.
KPBS asked the candidates how they would engage with the Imperial Regional Detention Facility and whether they would invoke their authority to inspect the facility.
California has given county officials the authority to inspect ICE detention centers. So far, Imperial County supervisors and health officials have not used that power, according to immigrants’ rights groups.
KPBS asked the candidates how they would engage with the Imperial Regional Detention Facility and whether they would invoke their authority to inspect the facility.
- Hawk said the two deaths connected to the Imperial Regional Detention Facility are “under investigation at this time” and declined to comment. But he said the supervisors “would indeed visit the facility for inspection.”
- Lizarraga said she would support using the county’s oversight authority to request information from the detention center, review conditions and advocate for safety and well-being of detainees. She said she would also collaborate more with community organizations and legal advocates.
