Inland Empire United Action Fund is backing Joe Salas because he is one of the most qualified and community-rooted candidates in this race. He has spent more than 20 years working in San Bernardino’s schools — as a teacher, administrator, and Special Education Director — making sure students and families got the support they needed. He has a background in business administration and political science, and he’s currently earning both a doctorate and a law degree. He’s not a career politician. He’s a public servant.
One of the main reasons we’re endorsing Joe is his commitment to real economic revitalization in San Bernardino. He understands that Downtown San Bernardino has untapped potential and has already worked to bring tangible investments to the community — including helping bring the farmers market to downtown, which created local foot traffic and supported small businesses. He’s focused on bringing in new retail and commercial development that creates actual jobs — not just promises. Joe has spoken about three corridors and says the approach should be community-driven: gathering feedback from residents on what businesses they want to see, and hearing from existing small business owners about what would help them increase sales and better serve the neighborhood. It’s not a top-down approach, it’s a listen -first approach.
We’re supporting Joe in part because he approaches public safety the right way: building real trust between law enforcement and the community. He knows from two decades in San Bernardino’s schools that safety is about the entire environment kids and families are living in — not just police presence alone. He wants collaboration, not just enforcement, and that’s a more durable approach to making Ward 4 safer.
Homelessness is a serious challenge in Ward 4, and we back Joe because he is committed to addressing it with real solutions, not just moving people from block to block. He also wants to improve infrastructure and make sure parks are safe and clean for all residents — because communities work better when basic public spaces are maintained. As someone who spent his career finding solutions for people who needed the most support, he is well-prepared to take this on.
Being a teacher, principal, and Special Education Director for 20-plus years is serious leadership experience. Joe has managed large teams, navigated complex state and federal rules, advocated for people who couldn’t always advocate for themselves, and delivered results under real pressure. Add a business administration degree, a political science master’s, a current doctorate, and a law degree in progress — Joe may be the best-prepared local candidate San Bernardino has seen in years.
Yes. Joe was a key supporter of the Community Workforce Agreement in the San Bernardino Unified School District, which made sure local workers got fair pay and local jobs. He also helped bring the farmers market to downtown San Bernardino, making fresh food easier to get and helping local small businesses. And he’s been a teacher in San Bernardino schools for years — that’s a long-term commitment to this community.
Inland Empire United Action Fund is proud to endorse Joe Salas. He also has the endorsement of the San Bernardino County Democratic Party and support from colleagues in education and the broader community who have seen his work up close for years. These are people who know him, not just people who read his website — and their support speaks to who Joe really is.
Learn about other candidates like Joe by visiting our Endorsements page here:
2026 Primary Election Endorsements