For Waterford City Council
Todd Valdez
Let's Make Waterford the Gateway to Recreation.
Todd Valdez is running to help Waterford take better care of what it already has, listen to residents, plan responsibly for what comes next, and make the Gateway to Recreation a visible part of everyday life.
A note from Todd
For 26 years, Waterford has been home to my family.
My wife, Deanna, and I raised our four sons here. I care deeply about the community that has given our family so much.
I am running to give back. I believe every resident deserves a Waterford that is clean, safe, beautiful, and well cared for, with leadership that listens, studies the facts, asks direct questions, and follows through.
“The Gateway to Recreation” should describe the experience of living in Waterford.
Why I'm running
It started on the trail.
As an avid trail runner and marathon runner, I spend many hours outdoors in the places our neighbors use every day, including the recreation trail along the Tuolumne River.
I have organized cleanup and improvement work along the trail, and the more attention I paid to the area, the more I started asking practical questions: Who is responsible? What is the plan? What will it take to follow through?
Those questions go far beyond one trail. They apply to our parks, facilities, roads, lighting, access, infrastructure, and the other shared spaces residents depend on. The trail is where I began thinking more seriously about how Waterford takes care of what it already has.
I am running to give back and help Waterford fully live up to its identity as the Gateway to Recreation.
Meet Todd Valdez
Who is responsible?
What is the plan?
What will it take to follow through?
Take care of what we have.
Plan responsibly for what comes next.
Follow through for residents.
The Gateway Vision
Making the Gateway to Recreation Real
The Gateway to Recreation should mean more than being the last stop before recreation somewhere else. Waterford already has the Tuolumne River, trails, parks, and public spaces where people can walk, run, bike, fish, play, gather, and spend time with family. The opportunity is to take better care of those assets, make them easier and safer to use, and build greater pride around what Waterford already has.
Four pieces, working together.
01
Parks and Trails Worth Using
Well-maintained parks, trails, restrooms, lighting, access, and amenities can make Waterford's recreation spaces more welcoming and worth returning to.
02
Outdoor Life for Families
Places where people of different ages and abilities can walk, run, ride, fish, play, gather, and spend time outside close to home.
03
Beautiful Public Spaces
Clean, safe, cared-for gathering places, landscaping, lighting, and entrances can demonstrate pride in Waterford and make shared spaces easier to enjoy.
04
A Stronger Identity and Local Opportunity
A stronger recreation identity can build civic pride and create more reasons for residents and visitors to discover Waterford and support local businesses.
None of this happens at once, and none of it happens alone. It requires stewardship, resident participation, responsible planning, and steady follow-through.
Campaign priorities
Four things worth working on.
Todd's priorities are practical: care for Waterford's shared spaces, make them cleaner and safer, create more opportunities for families and young people, and make sure city leadership listens, plans responsibly, and follows through.
Parks, Trails, and the Tuolumne River
Waterford's parks, recreation trail, river access, and public facilities should be among the city's greatest strengths. Todd wants these shared assets cared for consistently and supported by realistic plans for long-term maintenance.
- Support clear maintenance priorities for trails, parks, restrooms, water fountains, lighting, landscaping, access, and other public amenities.
- Protect the natural character of the Tuolumne River and trail while improving usability, accessibility, visibility, and long-term care.
A Cleaner, Safer, More Beautiful Waterford
Every resident deserves public spaces that feel clean, safe, beautiful, and well cared for.
- Focus on practical concerns such as lighting, litter, graffiti, landscaping, sidewalks, entrances, and the condition of shared public spaces.
- Make parks, trails, facilities, and community spaces more comfortable and usable for families, children, seniors, and residents throughout the day and evening.
Community Events and Opportunities for Families
Waterford should give families and young people more reasons to participate, gather, and build traditions close to home.
- Support practical partnerships that expand recreation, community events, youth activities, and opportunities to use Waterford's parks, river, and public spaces.
- Use community programming and local partnerships to strengthen civic pride and create more reasons to support Waterford businesses.
Practical and Responsive City Leadership
Residents deserve city leadership that is accessible, prepared, and accountable for the everyday services and long-term decisions that shape Waterford.
- Listen to residents, study the facts and budget, ask direct questions, work constructively with city staff, communicate clearly, and follow through.
- Plan responsibly for roads, water, facilities, infrastructure, and growth so new commitments are supported by the services and maintenance Waterford depends on.
Waterford
Waterford Is Worth Discovering
Waterford is more than where we live. It is what we care for, build, and share.
The Tuolumne River, recreation trail, parks, neighborhoods, farmland, local businesses, and families who have built lives here are already part of what makes Waterford special. The opportunity is not to remake Waterford. It is to take better care of what we have and make it easier for people to experience.
Todd believes Waterford can be clean, safe, welcoming, well cared for, and more connected to the recreation already here. A stronger local identity can build pride for residents and give others more reasons to stop, spend time, and support Waterford businesses.
Meet Todd
26 years of showing up.
A short introduction, in four chapters.
From the family archive
01
Home and Family
Todd has lived in Waterford for 26 years. He and his wife, Deanna, raised their four sons here and continue to call Waterford home.
02
A New Path at 39
Todd began his career in environmental services and worked his way into management. At 39, he returned to school and earned his bachelor's degree, later beginning a career in pharmaceutical sales.
That decision reflects a pattern throughout Todd's life: keep learning, take responsibility, and keep moving forward.
03
Running and Community Service
Todd is an avid trail runner and marathon runner. In Waterford, he has served as a Scoutmaster, coached recreation sports, helped bring Teens Run Modesto to the community, and organized cleanup and improvement projects along the Tuolumne River trail.
04
Life Outside Work
Todd enjoys gardening, barbecuing, improving outdoor spaces, spending time with his family, and being outside.
Todd believes that circumstances do not have to determine outcomes. Individuals, families, and communities can build something better through persistence, care, and steady work.
Waterford, CA
A Place Worth Discovering
Get involved
Help Build the Next Chapter for Waterford
There is room for everyone here — an hour on a cleanup morning, a conversation on your street, or simply staying in the loop.
Volunteer
Walk a neighborhood, help at a cleanup, or lend a few hours where they are needed most.
Host a Neighborhood Conversation
Bring neighbors together for an informal conversation about Waterford's future.
Stay Updated
Get occasional notes about the campaign, cleanup mornings, and community events.