Chukchansi employee files for Supervisor

Joe Alberta files nomination papers Friday

Brian Wilkinson

(Updated: Thursday, March 18, 2010, 4:31 PM)

Joe Alberta, 35, tribal community representative for the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, will run against incumbent District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler.

Alberta filed his nomination papers in Madera with the County Elections Division five minutes before the cutoff deadline last Friday.

"We need some new energy and new focus in District 5. I've always thought about running for this position," Alberta said. "I've given this a lot of thought and I feel the time is right."

Alberta said as a fifth-generation resident of this area, he feels he has an obligation to run for the office.

Alberta was born and raised in the Mountain Area, went to Wasuma Elementary School and graduated from Yosemite High School. He graduated with a degree in agribusiness and farm and ranch management from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

During college, he worked for Sky West airlines as a customer service supervisor.

Alberta came back to the area to take a position as a casino host when the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino opened in June 2003. He went to school to get his dealer's certificate and dealt cards at the casino for two years and then became a floor supervisor.

In 2006, he was elected to the tribal council and served as secretary of the council and the Chukchansi Economic Development Authority and served in that position for two years.

As the community representative for the tribe, Alberta has worked to educate the public about the culture and history of the Chukchansi tribe, which number more than 850.

"I love the Mountain Area. I grew up hiking, fishing, rock climbing and horseback riding. I drove logging trucks during the summer when I was going to school."

"I've worked in small business and the largest business in the county," he said, referring to the casino. "We need to keep and find new jobs for residents of the county. We need to fight for our fair share of the dollars that come to Madera County.

Alberta feels there needs to be more transparency in government.

"We should be helping people understand how government works and I want to do that by keeping everything the county does transparent," Alberta said. "We should not be confusing people."

Has says he has always been interested in politics.

"I was the president of the freshman class at Yosemite High and served as the rally commissioner. That was the seed that got me interested in politics," Alberta said. He served in other offices throughout high school and helped establish and served as vice president of the Native American Student Association at Cal Poly for two years.

Alberta can be contacted at alberta4supervisor@sti.net.

In other supervisorial races: County Planning Commission member Tom Kellner will run against incumbent Frank Bigelow in District 1. District 2, Chowchilla City Councilman and volunteer firefighter Justin White, former supervisor John Silva and business owner David Rogers are running for the seat vacated by Vern Moss.

Supervisors Ronn Dominici and Max Rodriguez, District 3 and 4, are not up for reelection this year.

Running against Sheriff John Anderson is Betty Barker, a sergeant in the sheriff's department.

Kenneth Russell, a Realtor from Ahwahnee, is running against incumbent Tom Kidwell for County Assessor and 20-year incumbent County Clerk-Recorder Rebecca "Becky" Martinez is being challenged by Desirae Devine, 22, a legal administrative assistant in Madera.

Seeking the Superintendent of Madera County Schools position is Cecilia Massetti, current associate superintendent, and Gwendolyn Stuart, a teacher/consultant in Madera. Dr. Sally Fraizer is not seeking reelection after six terms in office.

District Attorney Michael Keitz is running unopposed as is Auditor-Controller Janet Kroeger and Tax Collector-Treasurer Tracy Kennedy Desmond.