Nestor Enrique ?Rick? Valencia, mayor of Bell, Calif.
In 2010, Bell was rocked by scandal. Officials were arrested on charges related to misappropriation of funds, and others resigned in shame. The city was left broken.
Nestor Valencia took on the task to rebuild, but his start in local government began years before the scandal.
By attending city council meetings and asked questions of the city?s leadership, Valencia became convinced something was wrong in his city. ?As I found out more information? I was flabbergasted; I was disappointed,? he says.
He ran for a city council position in 2007, but was intimidated, insulted and threatened during his campaign.
But he was not dissuaded. After the scandal broke he was elected to council. From the council, he became mayor.
But he was walking into a maelstrom. ?Our city was in dire need of a new image,? he says.
Valencia reached out to find new, upstanding officials to help. He says these officials work with the understanding that they are stewards of the community?s resources.
Once solid leadership was in place, Valencia began rebuilding the city?s reputation. The first step was total transparency, accomplished through a new city website where residents can see where taxes are going and what the government is doing.
Valencia also worked to engage residents by being an active part of the community. ?I don?t wait for them to come to me, I go to them,? Valencia says.
While Bell has a long way to go, Valencia says he is honored to work with his team to rebuild the broken city.