The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors made history Tuesday with the selection of Sonny Dhaliwal as board chair for 2026.
Dhaliwal, who represents District 3, is the first Sikh-American to chair the county supervisors. The board also elected Steve Ding vice chair during its reorganization on Tuesday.
Dhaliwal expressed his appreciation for his fellow board members and said he looks forward to continuing his work with the county.
“As we turn from celebrating the County’s 175th anniversary to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of this great nation, I am mindful of my place in history and in this community,” Dhaliwal said in a statement. “The United States gave me the opportunity to have the life I have today. The ability to say ‘my fellow Americans’ is a privilege I will never forget. And as we continue to expand what it means to be an American, I am proud to represent the people of San Joaquin County, and District 3 as Chair of the Board.”
Dhaliwal was elected to the board in 2024 and is in the second year of his first term.
He previously served for more than a decade as mayor of Lathrop, as well as sitting on the Lathrop City Council and Planning Commission. He has prioritized job creation and education during his supervisorial term, particularly expanding access to well-paying local jobs to reduce long commutes for working families.
Ding, from District 4, thanked his colleagues and outlined his focus in the vice-chair role.
“As a restaurant owner and advocate for North County residents, I want people to know their voices are heard and represented in Stockton,” Ding said in a statement. “In this role, I look forward to supporting Chair Dhaliwal and the Board in facilitating smooth governance, while continuing to advocate for common-sense solutions and protections for our Delta and agricultural way of life.”
Ding was elected in 2022 and is entering the final year of his first term.
Prior to joining the board, he was the congressional staff director for the House Resources Committee, with oversight of issues such as energy, Indian Affairs, marine affairs, forests, and public lands.
District 2 Supervisor Paul Canepa served throughout 2025. Canepa thanked his staff, family and reflected on the board’s ability to disagree while moving forward.
“We do not always get along, but we make decisions and we move on,” Canepa said. “And I think that’s the most important part of good government, is to be able to push your opinions, not always agree, and then move on.”
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