Latino Leader Resigns From Top Position at El Concilio

After five years at the helm of El Concilio del Condado de Ventura, Francisco Dominguez will step down as executive director of Ventura County’s highest-profile Latino advocacy group to pursue private business opportunities.

Dominguez, 38, announced his resignation, effective June 30, this week to staff members and to the executive committee of the board of directors of the Oxnard-based nonprofit agency.

A longtime advocate for Latino political empowerment and a trustee with the Oxnard Elementary School District, Dominguez said he has been contemplating a change for several months.

“I just think this is the right time to move forward,” said Dominguez, who is considering unspecified opportunities in the retail sector and private consulting.

“El Concilio is getting ready to do some major projects, and if I stayed any longer I would have to finish out the year,” he added. “For me, it’s a matter of wanting to change directions.”

Dominguez is viewed as an up-and-coming Latino politician, having won a seat on the Oxnard school board in 1996. Earlier this year, he unsuccessfully challenged veteran Supervisor John Flynn for his 5th District seat, garnering 35% of the vote in the heavily Latino district.

Dominguez said his decision to leave El Concilio had nothing to do with pursuing higher office, adding that his political goal at the moment is to win reelection to the school board in November.

As head of the countywide social services agency, Dominguez has administered El Concilio’s $1-million annual operating budget and overseen projects ranging from combating youth violence to curbing alcohol-related problems in the Latino community.

He said he is most proud of the agency’s efforts to push permanent residents toward citizenship and to help achieve an accurate head count during the 2000 census.

El Concilio board member and incoming president Hank Lacayo said Dominguez provided strong leadership during his tenure. Lacayo said the board will immediately begin searching for a replacement.

“He took over the organization at a time when we had severe financial problems,” Lacayo said. “It was a period of time when we needed somebody young and energetic, and he provided that leadership over the years.”

Flynn, an El Concilio board member who during the campaign questioned Dominguez’s stewardship, said Tuesday he was not surprised by the announcement.

“I wasn’t enthralled with Francisco’s leadership,” said Flynn, noting that there were times that the agency went into the red and failed to meet payroll. “I think he was just someone who maintained things and not someone with new ideas.”

Dominguez said it’s true that El Concilio had some cash-flow problems. But he said that is the nature of nonprofit organizations and he is leaving the agency in sound fiscal shape.

“It’s been both rewarding and challenging,” he said. “But I think we were able to accomplish some good things.”