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I am the oldest child of an Air Force Sergeant and a school teacher mother, Hubert and Mary Elizabeth Walsh. My parents, brother, sister, and I lived near several Air Force bases through out the country before moving to Merced in 1967. My father retired from the Air Force and worked as a substitute teacher and for Ragu during the tomato season. My mother taught elementary school for the Merced City School District for over twenty years.
I graduated from Merced High School and went on to Merced College. I graduated from Merced College with an A.A. and transferred to UC Berkeley, where I received a B.A.in psychology and sociology. After my graduation, I did a tour of duty in the US Army serving most of my enlistment at Ft. Lewis, Washington. During my time at Ft. Lewis, I earned a master’s degree in social sciences from Pacific Lutheran University.
Following my service in the Army, I returned to Merced and married my college sweetheart, Rita Joyce Arzamendi, whom I am still married to 32 years later.
The year we married I began working for Merced County, I worked in several areas of county government for 25 years: Merced Community Medial Center (the county hospital); the Community Action Agency; and (much of this time) the Human Services Agency.
Rita had already graduated from UC Davis before we married, and went on to CSU Stanislaus to earn her teaching credential. She taught in Ora Loma and the Atwater School District before joining the Merced City School District. She has and continues to teach kindergarten. During this time I returned to college and earned an M.B.A. from CSU Stanislaus. And Rita and I had two children, Melissa and Travis.
We also became active in the community and in our church. I volunteered in several community areas: United Way Board of Directors, Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, Federal Emergency Management Act Coordinating Committee, Merced County Refugee Forum, Merced County Advisory Board on Drug Programs, Merced County Mental Health Advisory Board, City of Merced Affordable Housing Task Force, City of Merced Recreation and Parks Commission, Merced County At Risk Youth Coordinating Committee, Merced City Schools Citizens' Advisory Council Castle Air Force Base Reuse , Merced Workforce Development Committee, and the UC Merced Committee.
In 1995, I ran for City Council and was elected. I continued to serve in elected city service for two terms on City Council and two terms as Mayor of Merced.
I was honored in 1997 to be selected as one of Merced College’s Outstanding Alumni during its 35th Anniversary Celebration.
In 2000, I was selected as the Director of the Social Services Department in Madera County. During my years as DSS Director, I have worked on many of the Central Valley’s challenges including increasing work force investment, improving health care, and providing service for young people and seniors. Recently, I was honored as the Human Services Administrator of the Year by the National Association of County Human Services Administrators, an affiliate of the National Association of Counties.
I continued my volunteer efforts to promote UC Merced and encouraged its development and was honored as alumnus of the year by the San Joaquin Valley Alumni Association in 2001.
I remain active in my church and in the community. I serve as the Chair of the board of my church and am active in several community organizations such as Hope Now for Merced and the Merced County Chamber of Commerce. My family continues to make Merced their home. My parents live in their own home in Merced just a few blocks from Rita and me. My daughter Melissa married Matthew Blake, a local business owner, and they are the proud parents of my grandson Jarrett. My son Travis transferred from Merced College to San Jose State last fall to continue his education.
As a husband, parent, grandfather, son, neighbor, and volunteer, I am quite familiar with the wide spectrum of issues that face Merced County and its residents. I will continue to use this awareness to foster community changes that will improve the quality of life, economic development, and public safety.
Let’s work together again!
Hub
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