During Salas’ seven-year tenure on the Planning Commission, he spearheaded a “successful campaign in naming several city streets after community leaders such as Morrison, Leavens, Peralta, Tirre, Estriga, King, Vela and Salas,” said Luna. Salas also founded the Mexican American Chamber of Commerce to benefit scholarships for Santa Paula High School graduates, who have received more than $82,000 to date.Luna said that Salas also “organized the first career day ever for students at Barbara Webster Elementary School,” and was a strong supporter of Santa Paula Memorial Hospital, making donations to prompt awareness to the community of the special needs of Hispanics. In 1986, Salas founded and sponsored the first Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular; and with Jim Tovias and the Mexican American Chamber continued to stage the community event until the early 1990s.Salas, who also served on the Santa Paula Union High School District Board of Trustees, was elected City Clerk in 1996 and served for four years. “Victor has demonstrated a commitment for caring for others and love for Santa Paula and its residents by his generosity and willingness to help,” said Luna.“The only thing I can say, it was good for the Mayor to read my long community service for the City of Santa Paula,” said Salas. During his term as City Clerk, Salas said one of his accomplishments was upgrading the Council dais - from new chairs to the latest microphone technology. “I worked real hard with the Council to upgrade the dais,” he noted.
Council lauds former City Clerk, July 4th fireworks founder Salas
December 14, 2007
Santa Paula City Council
A former City Clerk who lit up the sky by founding and sponsoring the city’s first Fourth of July fireworks spectacular was honored by a City Council Proclamation at the December 3 meeting.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA former City Clerk who lit up the sky by founding and sponsoring the city’s first Fourth of July fireworks spectacular was honored by a City Council Proclamation at the December 3 meeting.Victor Salas received the honor from Mayor Ray Luna, who noted that the “Salas family to me has always been an important part of life. Salas’ Dad was a good friend to the Luna family,” including gifting Luna with candy when he was a boy living around the corner from the family’s longtime business, El Brillante Market.Luna noted that Salas, a native Santa Paulan, attended area schools before graduating from Santa Paula High School in 1951 and entering the United States Air Force. Salas, who served as a radio technician before his discharge as Airman First Class, worked for Santa Paula Waterworks as an engineer for 22 years.
