Visalia City Council District 4 · Nov 3, 2026
Emmanuel Hernandez Soto
Candidate for City Council District 4 (incumbent)
Emmanuel Hernandez Soto, the incumbent, is running for Visalia City Council District 4 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Nick Kastle.
Vote-by-mail ballots start going out · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodayDistrict 4 council member who has worked with nonprofits including CSET and Self-Help Enterprises. He was the first in his family to graduate from College of the Sequoias and later the University of California, San Diego.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Incumbent
Where Emmanuel Hernandez Soto stands: positions on the record
Sales tax2 sourced positions
As reported by the Valley Voice
Proposed putting a sales tax measure before voters to fund underfunded and unfunded city projects sooner.
“That can be with a sales tax measure that we let the voters vote on, and then set priorities.”
Own statementValley Voice · Mar 19, 2026
Voted yes on a $45,000 voter survey on a possible local sales tax measure for November 2026 (failed 2-3, March 2026).
Council voteVisalia City Council minutes, March 2, 2026 · Mar 2, 2026
Aquatic center1 sourced position
Voted yes on pursuing an aquatic facility with a 50-meter pool and recreational pool and directing staff to return with funding options (passed 3-2, Jan. 2026).
Council voteVisalia City Council minutes, Jan. 20, 2026 · Jan 20, 2026
Sam's Club project1 sourced position
Voted no on rejecting neighbors' appeal of a Sam's Club with a 28-pump gas station at Mooney Boulevard and Visalia Parkway (appeal rejected 3-2, Dec. 2024).
Council voteValley Voice · Dec 10, 2024
Riverway Sports Park fence1 sourced position
Voted no on a $3.04 million contract to build fencing at Riverway Sports Park (passed 4-1, July 2025).
Council voteVisalia City Council minutes, July 21, 2025 · Jul 21, 2025
Cannabis businesses1 sourced position
Voted yes on drafting an ordinance that could let cannabis businesses operate (failed 2-3) and no on a framework with the number of businesses set to zero (passed 4-1, March 2025).
Council voteVisalia City Council minutes, March 3, 2025 · Mar 3, 2025
State pension bill1 sourced position
Voted no on a city letter opposing Assembly Bill 1383, a state bill changing public employees' retirement benefits (passed 3-1, April 2026).
Council voteVisalia City Council minutes, April 6, 2026 · Apr 6, 2026
City budget1 sourced position
Voted yes on adopting the city's two-year budget for fiscal years 2026/27 and 2027/28 (passed 4-0, June 2026).
Council voteVisalia City Council minutes, June 15, 2026 · Jun 15, 2026
District 3 election1 sourced position
Voted no on appointing the unopposed District 3 candidate in lieu of an election and canceling that contest (passed 3-2, Aug. 2026).
Council voteVisalia City Council minutes, Aug. 17, 2026 · Aug 17, 2026
Also running for City Council District 4
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