Kayla Sherwood is a contributing editor for Western City. She can be reached at ksherwood@calcities.org.

Fowler Mayor Daniel Parra will conclude his 2023-24 term as League of California Cities President in October. He sat down with Western City to reflect on his term as president, his path to local office, and his advice for young leaders. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Kayla Sherwood: You grew up in Parlier with six siblings. Tell us about your upbringing. How have those life experiences prepared you to be the leader you are today?

I grew up very poor, into a family of farmworkers. It was a tough life, and I joined the U.S. Air Force to get out. But I did not forget where I came from. I know what the people in my community are going through and experiencing. Running for city council is my way of giving back and serving my community with the dignity and respect they deserve.

How did you initially get involved with Cal Cities?

It was an opportunity that kind of fell into my lap. When I won my seat on the council, there was an opening on my regional division board. Within three weeks of taking office, I was at a division leadership meeting, and I really enjoyed it. I got to meet a lot of people in my division from different lifestyles, backgrounds, and city sizes that I wouldn’t have normally met. I learned a lot about city differences and shared challenges.

As you look back on your year as president, what is your proudest achievement?

One of my favorite things about serving as president is being able to tell stories about my region and my community. My city of Fowler is in an agricultural area with two major highways running through it. I’m very proud of the message I wrote in December on the impacts of climate change in the Central Valley. Most of the farmworkers in my community are Latino and low-income.

Our farmworkers have no choice but to work outdoors and deal with the health impacts. We’re experiencing a heatwave throughout the Valley right now, and our farmworkers are out picking grapes. Many people don’t pay attention to them, but they are out in the heat serving our community and putting produce on our tables. Being president has allowed me to pay it forward and be a voice for my community.

This past year you’ve spent a lot of time in the halls of both capitols, advocating for cities’ top priorities. What have you learned from your advocacy experiences?

Advocacy works. I really believe it works. You can send a letter outlining your priorities, but when you meet with your lawmakers it’s a lot more powerful than them reading a piece of paper. City officials are experts on their community, and telling local stories matters. State and federal lawmakers will listen to the city officials from their region.

What advice would you give someone considering a run for office that you wish you had received when you were first considering running?

Don’t forget who you are. You’re going to talk to consultants and experts who will try to make you something you’re not. Be true to yourself. Don’t change your tune based on who you are talking to and the groups you’re speaking with. Be consistent in your messaging. Get out there, and don’t be embarrassed. Don’t be afraid to ask for money. Remember you are doing this so that you can help people in your community. Without fundraising, you can’t help your community. You have to be bold enough to ask for fundraising and a vote.

What would you say to someone who is considering applying for Cal Cities leadership? 

Start with a policy committee or get involved with your division. That’s a great place to start and make a name for yourself. If you do apply for the Board, you [need to] have a history and track record that is proven and can be trusted. And get involved in CitiPAC — it is so important. Cal Cities has to take on some big fights for local control, and we need a strong CitiPAC.

Having traveled the state and spoken to hundreds of city officials, what would you say is the value of Cal Cities?

Cal Cities provides a voice and power for your community. Cal Cities brings us all together to speak with one voice on the issues that matter most to cities, and it’s powerful, especially for smaller cities. Take advantage of this organization and the work that they do for cities.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or acknowledge?

I’d like to thank the entire Cal Cities team for their support over the past year. I’d like to issue a special thank you to Pam Herrera [executive assistant, Office of the CEO], for keeping me on track and supporting me. I’d also like to thank Raj Rakkar and all of the regional public affairs managers. They all work so hard in our communities.

And finally, I would like to thank my fellow board officers [First Vice President and Rancho Cucamonga Mayor Pro Tem Lynne B. Kennedy, Second Vice President and El Cerrito Council Member Gabe Quinto, and Immediate Past President and Artesia Mayor Pro Tem Ali Sajjad Taj] for all of the support throughout the past year. We work well together and have accomplished some great things.