NALEO Announces Election of New Board Officers

LOS ANGELES, CA - The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) today announced the unanimous election of two new officers during the Board of Directors meeting held on July 15, 2026, in conjunction with the NALEO 43 ^rd Annual Conference in Los Angeles.

The newly elected Board officers are:

• Treasurer: Dr. Vivian Malauulu, Councilmember-elect, City of Long Beach, CA

• Secretary: Hon. Adrian Garcia, Commissioner, Harris County, TX

Malauulu and Garcia join the NALEO Board's leadership team, led by Board President, Former New Mexico Statewide Elected Official and Current New Mexico Public Records Commissioner Brian S. Colón, First Vice President and Texas State Senator César Blanco, and Second Vice President and Coconino County Treasurer Sarah Benatar. The newly elected officers will help guide the organization's strategic direction as NALEO continues advancing its mission of developing, organizing, and empowering Latino elected and appointed officials.

"NALEO's mission is strengthened by leaders who are deeply committed to public service and to supporting Latino elected and appointed officials across the country," said NALEO Board President Brian S. Colón . "Councilmember-elect Malauulu and Commissioner Garcia bring outstanding records of leadership and service, and I congratulate them on their unanimous election. I look forward to working alongside them as we continue equipping our members with the resources, connections, and practical tools they need to serve their communities effectively."

Councilmember-elect Malauulu was elected to represent Long Beach's Seventh District in 2026 after serving three terms on the Long Beach Community College District Board of Trustees, where she became the first Latina ever elected to the Board. An educator, longtime labor leader, and journalist, Malauulu founded the Long Beach Community College Labor Center-the first and only labor center of its kind in the region-and has dedicated her career to expanding educational opportunity, advancing workforce development, and strengthening partnerships among education, government, industry, and labor.

Commissioner Garcia has represented Harris County Precinct 2 since 2019, where he has led efforts to strengthen infrastructure, expand economic opportunity, and support small businesses through initiatives such as the nationally recognized Biz2Empower accelerator program. A former Houston City Councilmember, Mayor Pro Tem, and the first Latino elected Sheriff of Harris County, Garcia brings decades of public service and executive leadership to the NALEO Board.

The elections complete the NALEO Board's officer leadership team for the 2026-2027 term.

The elections took place during the NALEO 43 ^rd Annual Conference, held July 14-16, 2026, in Los Angeles. Marking NALEO's 50 ^th anniversary and returning to the city where the organization was founded, this year's Conference convened more than 1,000 attendees from across the country for policy discussions, professional development, and networking opportunities focused on strengthening Latino leadership and advancing effective governance.