KING CITY — Oscar Avalos was sworn in as the City of King’s newest councilmember during the King City Council’s regular meeting on March 28.
Avalos is filling the District 1 seat vacated by Darlene Acosta, who resigned shortly before her death Feb. 14. He will serve the remainder of Acosta’s term, which ends in December 2026.
District 1 covers the northern region of King City, north of King and Third streets, including San Antonio Drive, Metz Road, Airport Road and Bitterwater Road within the city boundaries. The area includes Chalone Peaks Middle School, Del Rey Elementary and Mesa Del Rey Airport.
“My passion is in serving my community and business development,” Avalos said. “I have served as a planning commissioner for a few years, and this was the next step at the right time.”
Avalos has lived in King City for the past 18 years, during which he has served on the City of King Planning Commission and Sales Tax Advisory Committee, in addition to being part of the Salinas Valley Planning Commission Academy.
He also has been an ambassador for the King City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, and was recently named the 2022 Friend of the Community during the Chamber’s Annual Awards Dinner in March.
Avalos has always been interested in giving back to the community, and among his top priorities will be affordable housing and the revitalization of the downtown area.
“What I would like to achieve would be moving forward the plans for higher-density, affordable housing, as well as the continued development of Downtown Broadway,” Avalos said. “I would like to see King City attracting more businesses so that our community is able to shop locally and affordably.”
Avalos was appointed to the City Council by a unanimous vote during a special meeting on March 22. He was selected among two other applicants who applied for the vacancy, Michael Oliveira and Erica Gonzales.
“I look forward to contributing to the ongoing success of our City Council and our City Manager,” Avalos said.
He now joins Councilmembers Robert Cullen (District 5), Carlos DeLeon (District 3), Mayor Pro Tem Carlos Victoria (District 4) and Mayor Mike LeBarre (District 2) on the council, which meets every second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 212 S. Vanderhurst Ave.
