About Carlos
Community journalist, investigative reporter, and lifelong Imperial Valley advocate
Carlos Duran
Candidate for IID Board of Directors, Division 1
Carlos Duran is a community journalist and investigative reporter who has spent years telling the stories that matter most to Imperial Valley families. Writing for the Holtville Tribune, the Calexico Chronicle, and The Desert Review, Carlos has built an intimate understanding of the challenges facing our community — not from a boardroom, but from the streets, the fields, and the kitchen tables where real decisions are made.
A Journalist Who Listens
While most politicians learn about issues from briefing papers, Carlos has covered them firsthand. He has walked the toxic playa of the Salton Sea with environmentalists, sat with parents of bullied children at school board meetings, documented the expansion of beloved local businesses like Rosa's Plane Food, and followed the 95-mile ultramarathon of activist William "Irondad" Sinclair as he raised awareness about the receding shoreline.
His reporting on the 2024 Lithium Valley Symposium consistently focused on whether private sector investments would yield tangible benefits for local working families — not just corporate profits. His coverage of the Calexico Unified School District gave voice to parents demanding accountability. His documentation of the California Mid-Winter Fair, the Holtville Rotary Club Pulled Pork Cook-off, and the 18th Cesar Chavez Celebration reflects a deep love for the cultural fabric of our valley.
Why the IID Board?
The Imperial Irrigation District is the most powerful governing body in the region. It controls the water that sustains our $2.6 billion agricultural economy and the electricity that powers every home, business, and farm in the valley. The decisions made by the five-member IID Board directly affect the cost of living for every family in Division 1.
Carlos is running because he believes the current board has become disconnected from the daily economic realities of working-class ratepayers. After implementing the largest rate increase in the district's 100-year history — while simultaneously blocking a $10 billion project that could generate tens of millions in revenue — Carlos believes it's time for a new voice that prioritizes people over institutional politics.
The Contrast
The incumbent represents top-down, institutional management of a massive utility. Carlos represents bottom-up, community-level advocacy demanding that the utility serve the people rather than its own institutional preservation.
Deep Valley Roots
Carlos's connection to the Imperial Valley isn't political — it's personal. His years of covering community events, from the 30th anniversary of the Frankie L. Chavez Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser in Brawley to the struggles of small businesses in El Centro, reflect someone who is genuinely embedded in the social fabric of this community.
He has reported on the hard issues — the county's chronic unemployment, the Salton Sea health crisis, the water tower controversy in Calexico, the heated debates over school board governance — with a consistent focus on giving ordinary people a voice in decisions that affect their lives.
That is exactly what he intends to do on the IID Board.
Ready to Fight for the Valley
Carlos isn't a career politician. He's a community advocate who has spent years listening to your stories. Now he wants to take that voice to the IID Board.
Support Carlos