DIXON, CA (MPG) - Julian Cuevas, a man to boast he is a born and raised Dixonite, is first out the gate to formally announce his campaign for Dixon School Board. There are three seats open for election this November on the DUSD Board currently held by Board President Caitlin O’Halloran, Board Vice-President Jewel Fink, and Lloyd McCabe. O’Halloran has said she will not run again although Fink will seek re-election and at this time McCabe is undecided.

“I have met with each of them to learn more about the issues,” said Cuevas. His interest in the democratic process was “sparked back in high school,” he said. “I got involved with student leadership and was the Senior Class President which set the trajectory of serving my community,” he said. Cuevas has been attending the meetings and learning the issues facing Dixon’s schools.

“There is no question that these last couple of years have been challenging. But as we continue to adapt and look ahead, my hope is that we may be able to refocus, revisit and re-envision the goals and standards that better enable the success of our students, teachers, and families,” he said.

Although this will be his first time running for elected office, he is no stranger to public service.

Cuevas, 34, who has degrees from the University of California San Diego and American University, is a government, nonprofit, and community relations professional with experience in federal, state and local government advocacy.

Early in his career, Cuevas was the Director of Education Programs at the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley where his work primarily focused on developing and implementing education interventions, including family engagement, in partnership with local school districts. In 2017, he was appointed as the Legislative Policy Representative at the California Department of Education by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. In this role, his policy portfolio included early childhood education, curriculum, and state standards. He was later appointed to Director of Government Affairs in 2019 where he oversaw the legislative and budget priorities impacting California’s 6.2 million students and 300,000 teachers. He now remotely sits as the Director of Policy & Governmental Affairs for the Inland Empire Community Foundation where he is leading efforts that strategically lift community voices around regional priorities that include education equity and inclusive economic development.

Cuevas is the son of Mexican immigrants. His parents immigrated to the United States in the late 60s-early 70s. After working in the fields, Cuevas with his high school sweetheart, Jessica, later devoted their careers to public service and moved to Dixon in 1978. For 30 years, his mother worked for Dixon Unified School District (DUSD) and retired as a Teacher’s Associate III; dedicating her career to helping students and families"'particularly those in the migrant and special education programs.

Cuevas’s father, a Veteran of the U.S. Army, joined the Dixon Police Department and rounded his 37 years of service as a Lieutenant of the Solano County Sheriff’s Office–and later as a Criminal Investigator for the District Attorney’s Office of Solano County. As a result, Cuevas and his three siblings have called Dixon home and attended DUSD schools. Cuevas and his wife, a Speech Language Pathologist, moved back to town, have two children, and are expecting their third.

With an election year underway, Cuevas is hopeful to continue in the family business of public service. He will focus on ensuring that goals, standards, and policies prioritize students, teachers and families. For more information, contact him at [email protected].