Meet the Candidate
JUAN TELLES
A leader built by Modesto, dedicated to District 2.
COMMUNITY-ROOTED LEADER
Proudly present in our neighborhoods, Juan was raised in West Modesto and has worked throughout the South Modesto, Airport, and Downtown neighborhoods. Juan brings experience in outdoor programming, youth leadership development, co-ops, and community organizing to government affairs.
SEASONED NON PROFIT PROFESSIONAL
Juan currently works as a Project Coordinator at a social & environmental justice organization focused on writing grants to improve environmental conditions across the San Joaquin Valley. He is an active volunteer and board member to several nonprofits.
PROUD FATHER & FAMILY MAN
Juan is the father of two incredible sons, Julian and Alexander, a brother to several siblings with their own growing families, and proud son of a single mother who raised him into the person he is today.
LOCAL BUSINESS CHAMPION
As a former small business owner, Juan understands how tough it is to grow and maintain a local company. Juan supports shopping local first, even boycotting Starbucks and other corporations that don't align with his values.
Juan's Vision for District 2
More Housing & Good Jobs
Modesto’s working families deserve dignity and stability. Everyone should have access to a home they can afford, work that allows them to cover all expenses, and a city that supports their hustle.
Community Safety
When we feel that we can walk, bike, bus, or drive around our neighborhoods without fear, that’s safety. It’s also more than the absence of crime — it's the presence of programs & spaces that help us feel that we belong here, and can fully enjoy the spaces around us.
Public Inclusion & Responsiveness
City government can do a much better job at being present in our communities. We need to trust that our concerns will be effectively and equitably addressed. When everyone has more access points to shaping our local decisions, our city is better for it.
To My Community With Love
I was born in Downtown Modesto, grew up on the West side, worked in the South side and Airport neighborhoods, and am now raising my sons here in this town that I love. District 2 — the Airport neighborhood, West side, South Side, and Downtown Modesto — hold many memories for me. I hear the happy screeches from kids and families in the Airport during nature walks and bike rides through the Tuolumne River Regional Park (TRRP). I see the parking lot full of community pop-up vendors that my coffee cooperative business brought together for markets in Downtown Modesto. I remember late summer nights in South Modesto meeting with resident leaders in their efforts to improve their local park. Being shoulder to shoulder with our community in these places, watching our young ones go from pre-K to entering college, is truly a gift. I want more than anything to keep seeing more families like ours thrive in this district and in this city.
As the local elections approached, I looked for a leader who could champion our neighborhoods at the citywide level as the hardworking people, bold dreamers, and deeply-rooted families that we are. It became quickly apparent that I had to embody the leadership that I could not find.
That is why I am running for Modesto City Council District 2. We deserve leaders who are present, passionate, and accountable to our communities, in all of their fullness. It is time to raise the bar for our district’s leadership. I intend to work together with you to build a city that works for all of us — not just the few. Hearing your concerns, I am focused on improving housing and jobs, community safety, and creating more ways for residents to take part in the decisions that affect our area.
I invite you to join me. It takes all of us.
With Love & Commitment,
Juan Telles