City Council
The Soledad City Council is made up of five members including a mayor. This legislative and policy entity of the City and responsible to the residents of Soledad for all municipal programs and services. City Council members also serve as the Soledad Successor Agency of the former Redevelopment Agency for the City. The City Council appoints members of the community to commissions, committees, and boards. The City Council provides policy direction on a broad spectrum of issues. The Soledad City Council holds regular meetings at 6:00 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. All meetings are open to the public and governed by the rules of the Ralph M. Brown Open Meeting Act.
PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES
- Convene one goal setting session each fiscal year; review and update the City’s Strategic Work Plan for the coming year
- Conduct an annual review of organizational performance with the City Manager
- Hold one annual joint study session with the City of Soledad Planning Commission
CURRENT AND PREVIOUS AGENDAS CAN BE ACCESSED BELOW IN OUR NEW PORTAL
Anna Velazquez
Contact Information
Email: avelazquez@cityofsoledad.gov ● Cell: 831-889-2567
As a lifelong resident of Soledad, my story begins with being raised in the Salinas Valley by farmworker parents. I attended San Vicente Elementary School, Main Street Middle School and Gonzales High School. I then achieved my Associate Degree from Hartnell Community College. Shortly thereafter, I left home to earn my Bachelor of Science Degree.
My background in criminology from California State University at Fresno laid the foundation for my desire for a high level of ethics, transparency, and accountability in public service. With over 20 years of experience in local government—including four years as a Soledad City Council member and many more in my current position as District Director for a State Senator—I bring a breadth of experience. My expertise includes administration of federal grants and the crafting and knowledge of local and state policies especially in the area of affordable housing. Additionally, I possess strong personnel and project management skills which have proven to be foundational in building civic and regional partnerships and providing fiscal sustainability for the delivery of programs and services.
I will continue to partner with county, state and federal government to ensure our community obtains the resources and funding necessary to thrive and prosper. I have participated in numerous boards and projects focused on creating lasting and positive impacts in the community. I currently serve on the following boards.
- Monterey County Mayors’ Association, Chair, 2021
- California League of Cities, Monterey Bay Division President, 2021
- California League of Cities, Monterey Bay Division, 1st Vice-President, 2019 & 2020
- California League of Cities, Housing, Community and Economic Development Policy Committee, 2019, 2020, 2021
- Board of Directors, Democratic Women of Monterey County (DWMC)-2019 -current
- Housing Resource Center (HRC), Board Member, 2020-current
My policy goals will continue to focus on smart growth principles and policies. This includes providing residents much needed commercial and retail business, a range of housing opportunity choices, walkable neighborhoods, preservation of open spaces, transportation choices and a strong sense of belonging.
Ben Caldera
Contact Information
Email: bcaldera@cityofsoledad.gov. ● Cell:
Ben Caldera has been a proud resident of Soledad for over 50 years. It was here that he met and married his late wife, Naomi. Together, they raised four wonderful children and shared a deep commitment to supporting numerous community and church organizations. For 10 years, Ben served as a volunteer firefighter, dedicating his time and skills to protecting the community. During his tenure, he rose through the ranks to Chief Engineer and served as an Executive Board Member, roles that allowed him to lead and contribute to the department’s growth and success. In addition to his firefighting service, Ben had the honor of serving on the Board of Directors for Monterey County Special Districts for over 20 years. Appointed by County Supervisors Simon Salinas and Chris Lopez, he worked to support and advocate for the needs of the local community. Soledad has been more than a home for Ben—it’s been the foundation of his life, his family, and his passion for service.
Ben, a proud graduate of GUHS Class of 1982, built a multifaceted career grounded in service and expertise. Early in his professional journey, Ben became a licensed personal financial analyst, holding credentials in life insurance, securities, and loans. In 1989, Ben embarked on a decade-long career as a firefighter, where he earned numerous certifications in medical response and equipment operations, exemplifying his dedication to community safety. Ben also pursued excellence in water treatment, successfully earning a Grade 2 Water Treatment Operator license, a testament to his commitment to environmental stewardship. In 2012, Ben achieved a significant milestone by earning his bachelor’s degree in theology. Ben’s diverse achievements reflect a lifetime of learning, service, and leadership.
Ben Caldera served as Finance Director for Soledad Christian Academy and Soledad Apostolic Faith Tabernacle for 25 years, where he managed financial operations and supported the growth of these organizations. In addition to his financial role, Ben held many leadership positions, including Men’s Leader, Christian Education Superintendent, Children’s Department Leader, and Music Department Leader. For 40 years, Ben was a devoted member of a local church in Soledad, actively contributing to its mission and community. Recently, he and his family relocated to another church within the assembly to lend their talents and passion to the Music Department, continuing their lifelong dedication to faith and service.
Fernando Cabrera
Contact Information
Email: fcabrera@cityofsoledad.gov ● Cell: 831-750-7451
Fernando Cabrera was born in a small community named San Jerónimo in Purísima del Rincon, Guanajuato. He is the oldest of seven siblings, two sisters, and five brothers. His family and himself emigrated to the United States in 1986. Since then, Soledad has been his home. He did not attend any local schools but passed the GED in 1991, along with a couple of ESL classes at Hartnell College. He attended Hartnell College as a regular full-time student in 1996 at age 29 and graduated with an AA in Health Education and a Drug and Alcohol Counseling Certificate in 1998. After that, he transferred to San Jose State University, earning a BA and an MA. He also completed the education portion of the Education Leadership Doctoral Program at SCU Stanislaus, and his doctoral thesis is still in progress.
He currently works in the tax industry, preparing tax returns, teaching in-person and virtual federal and state tax law classes, and managing classes’ virtual tax content. He has 17 years of teaching experience at the community college level. He was an associate professor for San Jose City College, Mission College, and Hartnell College. He also has experience working for nonprofit organizations in adult education and training. His training experience focused on transformational change and conflict resolution.
Fernando offers his dedication, a community-centered mind, and transparency at personal and professional levels. It is his honor to serve as City Council.
Fernando Ansaldo-Sánchez
Contact Information
Email: fansaldo@cityofsoledad.gov ● Cell: 831-750-7375
Fernando Ansaldo-Sánchez is a life-long resident of the City of Soledad, with roots in the City that spans generations. His maternal great-grandfather immigrated to the United States as part of the Bracero program. His son, Fernando’s grandfather, who he is named after, soon came to the United States with Fernando’s grandmother, and began working in the fields, settling here in Soledad. After saving enough money, they brought Fernando’s mother and aunts to Soledad from Uriangato, Guanajuato, Mexico in 1980. Fernando’s father also immigrated in the 1980s from Ixtlán del Río, Nayarit, Mexico, where he ended up working the strawberry fields around Soledad. This is where Fernando’s father and mother met, and they soon got married.
Fernando attended elementary school in Soledad, and he graduated from Soledad High School in 2012. He attended UC Santa Cruz and received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2015. He also attended San Diego State University, where he received a Master of Arts in Education in 2020. Fernando currently works in higher education at San José State University, where he is an active member of the university.
Before being elected to the City Council, Fernando was the Vice-Chair of the Soledad Advisory Community Districting Committee and Vice-Chair of the Soledad General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC). Fernando’s goals for Soledad include expanding affordable housing opportunities, securing infrastructure funding for well maintained roads and traffic safety, and investing in prevention and intervention services to support safe neighborhoods. Fernando is honored to be entrusted by his community to represent them, and he looks forward to the work ahead.
Evarista Bañuelos
Contact Information
Email: ebanuelos@cityofsoledad.gov ● Cell: 831-750-2987
