Jesse Salinas is concluding his term as president of the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials (CACEO). Photo courtesy of Yolo County ACE

WOODLAND, CA (MPG) - After two years of service as president of the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials (CACEO), Yolo County Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters, Jesse Salinas is concluding a presidency defined by organizational growth, statewide collaboration and a commitment to developing the next generation of county leaders.

Representing California’s 58 county clerks and election officials, CACEO serves as the leading professional organization dedicated to advancing excellence in elections, clerks and public service. During his 2024–26 presidency, Salinas focused not only on guiding the association through legislative and operational challenges, but also on strengthening the organization itself to ensure its long-term success.

“Serving as CACEO president has been a great honor of my career,” said Salinas. “The strength of our association has always been its members. My goal was to build an organization that encourages participation, fosters collaboration and provides a strong foundation for future leaders to continue serving California's counties.”

Among the most significant accomplishments during Salinas' presidency were efforts to strengthen CACEO's governance and long-term sustainability.

Under his leadership, the association successfully re-established and affirmed its federal designation, reinforcing sound governance practices and ensuring the organization's continued ability to serve county officials throughout California.

Recognizing that strong organizations depend on engaged members, Salinas also worked to broaden participation across the state by encouraging professionals from counties of every size to serve on committees and contribute their expertise. The result was increased involvement from both large and small counties, bringing new perspectives to the association's work while cultivating future leaders within the profession.

One of the presidency's most significant organizational achievements was the development and execution of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials (CACEO), the California Assessors' Association (CAA) and the County Recorders’ Association of California (CRAC). The agreement established a governance framework for the collaborative management of shared resources among California's three associations, which was profiled in a case study by the Coalition of Election Association Leaders (CEAL) as an innovative national model.

Salinas also continued to strengthen partnerships between county officials, state agencies, legislators, and professional organizations while advancing statewide discussions on legislation affecting elections and clerk operations. Throughout his presidency, he emphasized collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and practical solutions that benefit counties regardless of their size or available resources.

Throughout his presidency, Salinas played a key leadership role in CACEO's advocacy efforts that contributed to securing state funding for California elections in both 2025 and 2026, helping counties continue administering safe, secure, and accessible elections.

Professional development remained another hallmark of his leadership. Salinas championed the continued success of the Leadership Academy in partnership with the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, helping expand opportunities for emerging leaders to develop the skills needed to guide Assessor, Clerk, Recorder and Elections offices into the future.

Throughout his tenure, Salinas consistently emphasized that leadership is about building relationships and creating opportunities for others. His collaborative leadership style has also helped strengthen the culture within the Yolo County Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Elections Department by fostering teamwork, professional development and a shared commitment to continuous improvement in service to the public.

“Our profession is strongest when we learn from one another,” Salinas said. “Whether you're serving a county of 20,000 residents or several million, we all face similar challenges. Bringing people together, encouraging new voices to participate and investing in future leaders has been one of the most rewarding parts of serving as president.”

Salinas has served Yolo County since 2005, was appointed Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/ Registrar of Voters in 2016 and was elected to the position in 2018, 2022 and again in 2026. Throughout his career, he has become recognized statewide for his collaborative leadership, innovative approach to public service and commitment to strengthening county government through partnerships and professional development.

Although his presidency has concluded, Salinas will continue supporting CACEO and working alongside colleagues throughout California. As the association welcomes new leadership, Salinas leaves behind a stronger organization; one with expanded member engagement, enhanced administrative support and governance, stronger partnerships among California's constitutional officers, and a renewed commitment to developing the next generation of public servants.

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