VISALIA, CA — The Tulare County Board of Supervisors chose its leaders for the 2026 term during its first meeting of the year on Jan. 6.
In a unanimous vote, the board elected Amy Shuklian as chair and Dennis Townsend as vice chair. According to the Visalia Times-Delta, Shuklian replaces Pete Vander Poel, who served as chairperson throughout 2025.
Shuklian represents District 3, which includes the city of Visalia and several nearby areas outside city limits. Before joining the Board of Supervisors, she served nine years on the Visalia City Council from 2007 to 2016. During her time on the council, she also held the positions of mayor and vice mayor.
Townsend, the newly elected vice chair, represents District 5. His district covers the southeastern portion of the county, including the communities of Porterville and Springville.
In addition to his work on the board, Townsend is a professional architect and the owner of a design and engineering firm based in Porterville. The Porterville Chamber of Commerce recognized his contributions to the area by naming him its 2025 Man of the Year.
The change in leadership is part of the board’s regular practice of rotating leadership roles every year.
