As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15) and reflect on the trailblazers who have opened doors for future generations, it’s time for the Watsonville High School Foundation to honor one of its most distinguished alumni, former California State Assemblymember Simón Salinas, with induction into the Watsonville High School Hall of Fame.
Simón Salinas’ story is one of humble beginnings, hard work, and historic achievement. Born in Slayton, Texas, to the parents of migrant farmworkers, Simón was one of twelve children who grew up in Watsonville. A proud graduate of Watsonville High School’s Class of 1974, he went on to attend Claremont McKenna College, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Latin American Studies, followed by a Bilingual Teaching Credential from San José State University and a Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law.
Before entering public office, Simón devoted himself to education, teaching 6th grade in local public schools and later serving as a professor at Hartnell College. His lifelong commitment to public service was evident from the start, grounded in his belief that education and civic engagement are essential to empowering working families and the next generation.
Simón Salinas is truly the trailblazer of Latino politics on the Central Coast. In 1989, he made history as the first Mexican American elected to the Salinas City Council, later serving as Mayor Pro Tem. Just a few years later, he broke another barrier as the first Mexican American in over a century to serve on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.
In 2000, he achieved yet another milestone by becoming the first Latino ever elected to represent the Monterey Bay region in the California State Assembly. There, he authored important legislation addressing affordable housing, agriculture, education, healthcare, transportation, and public safety, earning recognition as “Legislator of the Year” by numerous statewide organizations, including the League of California Cities and the American Planning Association.
After his service in Sacramento, Simón returned home to serve again on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, where he continued to champion housing, healthcare, economic development, clean and safe drinking water, and the agricultural industry that shaped his family’s life. Today, even in retirement, he continues to give back as a member of the Natividad Medical Center Board of Trustees and the Panetta Institute Board of Directors, and he remains a mentor to many of us in public office today.
Simón Salinas’ legacy continues to inspire countless young people from the Pajaro and Salinas Valleys to dream big, serve others, and never forget where they came from. His achievements reflect not only personal excellence, but also the resilience, determination, and hope of our entire community.
For these reasons, and many more, I respectfully urge the Watsonville High School Foundation to induct the legendary Simón Salinas into the Watsonville High School Hall of Fame. This year marks the fourth time I have submitted his name for consideration. Simón Salinas’ remarkable life and trailblazing public service make him a shining example of what Watsonville High can produce: a leader whose work has transformed our Monterey Bay region and inspired generations to come.
