Portrait of Coachella Valley Water District member Castulo Estrada.
Cástulo Estrada is the son and grandson of farm workers. He is the Assistant Engineer for the city of Coachella and the Vice President of the board of Coachella Valley Water District. In his position with the board he is involved in making decisions and recommendations as to how county resources get allocated. This is important because this is the first time in the history of the board that someone from the Eastern Coachella Valley has a voice in how resources and infrastructure are distributed in the valley. “I see politics as a way to move resources. I see through this the opportunity to participate and address the issues. Hopefully through our engagement our needs become priority or at least they reach a certain level of seriousness where now there are resources being allocated to those needs.” In speaking to his colleagues on the board Castulo feels that it is his responsibility to make a clear and well-reasoned argument about the communities needs. He has found that there is willingness to address the communities concerns. "I am bringing in a lot of ideas that have not been looked at in the past, if for no better reason than a lack of understanding of what the issues are. I am there to find solutions and work with my colleagues. There is way to get things done by working together and negotiating….It’s complex, all the board members have their own agenda, they have their constituencies and their interest in mind and it all has to mesh.”