Hospital Accountability Group Fields Challenger in Recall Race

Dr. Parmod Kumar officially has a challenger for his Tulare Local Healthcare District seat: Senovia Gutierrez.

Gutierrez filed paperwork Monday to run against Kumar in the recall election for his Area 3 seat. She is supported by Citizens for Hospital Accountability, the group that has seen recent electoral successes in its opposition to the Measure I bond proposal and fielding two candidates for the board.

The group announced her candidacy on Monday.

“As a long-time resident,” Gutierrez wrote in her official candidacy statement, “I intend to be a true representative of our area.”

Gutierrez originally came to the United States from Mexico at the age of 24. The youngest of 12 children, she was forced to quit school at the age of 16 and work to help her family.

After coming to the United States, Gutierrez enrolled in the Tulare Adult School at age 37 to begin the pursuit of a college education. She eventually graduated from Fresno State, obtaining a master’s degree in Social Work and becoming a citizen.

She has volunteered her time working in family services, leading a support group for domestic abuse survivors, and volunteered for the Kings View Tulare County Warm Line.

The group believes that her life experiences and prior work make her uniquely qualified to serve the residents of Area 3.

“Her work in these areas, as well as her previous internship at Kings View, South Tulare County Mobile Unit,” the group’s statement read, “makes her uniquely qualified for our board as a representative of the mental health provider community—something our district sorely needs and has been trying to improve.”

“She believes our community needs a vibrant hospital, but says that we are at a critical crossroads.”

The candidate nomination period runs from March 20 to April 27. The recall election will take place on July 11.

A map of the Tulare Local Healthcare District zones is available below for quick reference.