What Stanislaus County’s board chairman said in ‘state of the county’ address
Vito Chiesa, chairman of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors, touched on some triumphs and setbacks in Tuesday’s “state of the county” speech for 2026.
As the region continues to grow and evolve, Chiesa said, county government will keep supporting what residents want: safe communities, healthy families, good jobs and opportunity.
“Today, isn’t about saying we’ve finished the job,” Chiesa said during the speech in the board chambers. “It’s about recognizing how far we’ve come, while never losing sight of the work still ahead.”
Chiesa, who has served on the board for almost 18 years, is the top elected official this year over county efforts to deal with homelessness, a behavioral health reorganization, economic development and maintaining services for residents.
County Public Works is guiding construction of the North County Corridor expressway and the Seventh Street Bridge replacement in Modesto. But the county also is adding more to a system of 46 community, neighborhood and regional parks.
As the county is ending a park management relationship with Woodward Reservoir near Oakdale, a partnership with Turlock Irrigation District and California State Parks is expected to restore recreation at Turlock Lake in summer 2027.
Chiesa said county investment in libraries has included a major renovation of the Modesto Library, set to reopen in October, and an improved library experience in Turlock, Keyes, Empire and Salida. The county also has a library project in Waterford.
The chairman acknowledged that the Stanislaus Council of Governments was mired in controversy in the past year, which resulted in termination of former executive director Rosa De Leon Park over excessive spending on rental cars, travel expenses and executive pay.
Chiesa said the agency overseeing regional transportation is getting back on track. “There were lessons to learn, and the criticism was warranted. But strong organizations don’t let challenges define them,” he said. “They listen, they learn and they keep moving forward.”
The county is committed to building a more “connected, responsive and compassionate” system of care, through California’s transformation and modernization of behavioral health services, Chiesa said.
A new START program is intended to be a front door for people needing substance use treatment. The county is looking to strengthen mental health crisis response and is making a largest-ever investment in housing for people with mental illness and addiction challenges, Chiesa said.
Alternatives for certain defendants
He also praised the Superior Court, law enforcement, district attorney, public defender and Probation Department for providing alternatives for criminal defendants with mental health struggles and addiction problems, connecting them with treatment rather than remaining in the justice system.
Chiesa noted a 20% decrease in defendants declared incompetent to stand trial. Counties may be penalized millions of dollars by the state for exceeding caps on the number for IST defendants referred to state hospitals.
Chiesa, who talked about his contemplative morning walks, said he views the western mountains with more clarity today because of air quality improvements through the efforts of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, farmers, businesses and public agencies.
The chairman recognized a number of people for their dedicated public service:
- Denisse Munoz in the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office went the extra mile to correct a mistake — a $2,500 payment credited to the wrong property. And Stephanie Bazan of Child Support Services helped to lead the annual Kids Connect Community Celebration and Backpack Giveaway at Modesto Junior College.
- Former state legislators Kristin Olsen, Anthony Cannella, Cathleen Galgiani and Adam Gray were recognized for bipartisan efforts to end the “negative bailout,” serving to redirect millions of property tax dollars to the county general fund starting in the 2015-16 fiscal year.
- Hughson Fire Capt. Bob Bettencourt was honored for 50 years of fire protection service.
