By DJ Becker January 2023
Newly elected District One Madera County Supervisor and Fresno police officer Jordan Wamhoff brings a unique background and perspective to the office. At 36 years old, with a combination of banking, sales, small business, and law enforcement skills, he may also be one of the youngest persons to recently hold a seat on the Board of Supervisors. Wamhoff ran for and won the seat previously held by supervisor Brett Fraizer.
Wamhoff said “It’s a new year and a new board,” and he was optimistic about the challenges ahead.
Wamhoff discovered the space and affordability of The Madera Ranchos area about 15 years ago, shortly after graduating high school in Reedly, and built his life here with his wife and three children. “It was just a great fit. I loved the open spaces, the rural, warm family feel of the area,” Wamhoff said. “But The Ranchos isn’t small anymore, and has its challenges.”
When the supervisor’s position became open Wamhoff also saw the opportunity to meet and talk to residents and learn more about the many issues of the area. “It was a hard decision to run but I saw some things I wanted to change and ran for supervisor to be able to make a positive difference here,” he said.
“I knocked on thousands of doors during the campaign,” Wamhoff said. “When you talk to that many people you get a good grasp of what’s important here. Listening is the best skill to have, along with problem-solving and consensus-building. I enjoy problem-solving … effecting real change, and helping people,” he said.
Wamhoff describes himself as fiscally conservative but independently minded. “I am most closely aligned with the Republican Party,” but and hopes to bring a fresh perspective to his district. “I also co-own a small solar panel company, so I understand and share residents’ concerns of operating a small business,” he said.
“District One has the most dangerous roads in the County of Madera,” Wamhoff said, whether it was State Route 145, Avenue 12 or Avenues 7 and 9. and improving public safety is a top priority. As a police officer, he said he especially recognized how the rapid growth in the area had seriously impacted emergency services and public safety on the area roads.
“Speed, commuter traffic, and the lack of traffic enforcement are all issues I hope to prioritize and start working on,” he said. “Modernizing the district and improving response times for fire, police, and EMS. Minutes matter in an emergency. The current response times of 20 minutes or more are not acceptable,” Wamhoff said. “We are growing rapidly, with some 6,700 plus new homes planned. We need to make sure we have sufficient police and emergency services and that our resources are being used responsibly.”
Wamhoff said he plans to meet with Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pouge, CalFire, and EMS officials as soon as possible to assess those needs and find ways to improve that service delivery. “I also plan to work with state legislators to increase our CHP officer allocations for Madera County, which are currently way too low,” he said.
Improving traffic flow. Wamhoff went on to say the county also needs to better assess the traffic flow and start planning for a better traffic bypass. “Right now Avenue 12 is the bypass from SR 99 to Highway 41 for commuters. I think Avenue 9 would make a better bypass. It’s the natural progression. In a few years, make it four lanes to handle the growth and reduce the busy traffic flow now clogging Avenue 12,” he suggested.
Planning for a community park. “I’ve been advocating for state and private money for a regional park in District One for the last 2 to 3 years,” Wamhoff said. “It’s much needed. Ideally, it needs to be centrally located, 10 or so acres to accommodate future growth in the area.” I’ve been on the lookout for suitable vacant parcels, and look forward to working with Madera County planning on using state Proposition 68 funds, and even donations of land.”
Groundwater issues in the state are historically complex, Wamhoff said, “but the State of California has blocked or neglected to provide the necessary infrastructure and water storage we need. Temperance Flat dam needs to be built and locally we need multiple new ponding basins for groundwater recharge,” he said. “I’ve lived the well water drama here. We also need ways to take the excess flows and make them work for us. Water is not just a farm issue, it’s a security issue.”
Wamhoff also said his history in banking prepared him on some scale to delve into the world of municipal finance. “I enjoyed working with business owners in business banking. I did that for about 5 to 6 years, before deciding to pursue a career change to policing. I continued to work full-time and went to the police academy on weekends before graduating as a reserve police officer,” and then transitioned to full-time policing, he said.
“Policing is an intense, problem-solving career, and a roller coaster of non-stop, front row action and a calling,” Wamhoff said he wasn’t ready to give up. “It is taxing. You may have 40 calls waiting. But you help people in difficult or dangerous situations and effect real change.”
Wamhoff credits his recent administrative role as Vice President within the Fresno Police Officers Association (FPOA) with exposing him to the role and opportunities to effect change within corporate administration. “We have 850 or so officers in the FPO Association. I interacted on behalf of the FPOA with the Mayor, city manager, city council members and attorneys, and many offices within The City of Fresno on budgets, wages, benefits, negotiating contracts, legal defenses, or basically assisting officers with almost anything else, in times of need.”
Wamhoff said he is very used to multi-tasking and is currently reducing his police role in Fresno to just two or three rotating 10-hour shifts per week, as he transitions into his new role as supervisor.
Wamhoff laughed when he said he didn’t feel like a politician yet, but he was looking forward to tackling the job. “I think being grounded and not only working as a politician brings a better perspective. But I am looking forward to getting settled in the office. Meeting with staff, the residents, figuring out the issues … the opportunities, and being a part of Madera County’s future.”
Supervisor Wamhoff can currently be reached by leaving a message for him at Madera County 675-7700.
