About
The Full Story
Born and raised in East Salinas with strong roots in Guanajuato, Mexico and Texas – Orlando Osornio was raised by hard working immigrant parents who settled in Salinas, California. From an early age, Osornio navigated the public school and transportation system independently, increasing his confidence in his decision making skills.
At home, his parents instilled Catholic values in him and his siblings while striving to give them a better future. Demonstrating a curiosity for entrepreneurship, Osornio applied his skillset to various jobs such as assisting his father with landscaping and convincing local fruit vendors to allow him to work beside them.
Osornio excelled in bank and finance classes at Salinas High School, graduating as the Class of 2007. This experience served as a catalyst for his early professional career, as he worked up the ladder from a bank teller to a loan officer for leading financial institutions. With the gained knowledge and expertise in the banking industry, Osornio took an opportunity to become an independent small business owner opening a food pop-up – Tortas Al 100 – later recognized by USA Today as an impactful Latino owned business.
Today, Osornio serves as a liaison for hospice services in Salinas, supporting patients and families navigating the end-of-life process. Continuing to serve his community, he was elected to Salinas City Council in 2020 and proudly sits on the City of Salinas’s Finance Housing & Land Use and Litter & Debris Committees. He also serves as a board member for Tatum’s Garden, the first accessible playground in the Salinas community.
Involvement in various committees and the continuous theme of empowerment and entrepreneurship in Osornio’s life resulted in the formation of a group who organized an annual event, Christmas in Closter Park. This event, sponsored by several business and service organizations, allows community members to experience Christmas miracles at no cost, expanding inclusivity for low-income families.
Osornio and highschool sweetheart, Denise, a clinical therapist for the Monterey County Rape Crisis Center, are proud parents of their eldest daughter, Olivia, born in 2020 and are eagerly awaiting another baby girl. Osornio believes in consistency, giving back to this community, and spreading love proving to younger generations that achieving your dreams is possible no matter the barriers or obstacles.
Volunteer:
Christmas in Closter Park
Salinas Steinbeck Rotary
El Grito
Salinas Sneaker Convention
Tatum's Garden Foundation
Rodeo Committee
Día del Niño
Public Service:
Finance Committee
Housing & Land Use/Future Growth Area Committee
Salinas Downtown Community Board
Litter & Debris Subcommittee
Rodeo Subcommittee
EMS Greater Salinas Regional Council
City/County Mou Subcommittee
Club Car Subcommittee
Monterey Bay Air Resources District
Monterey Salinas Transit/Regional Taxi Authority
Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority
Salinas United Business Association
Accomplishments:
Events:
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Christmas in Closter Park
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Amor Salinas
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Co-Chaired Sneaker Convention
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Co-Chaired Dia del Nino 2024
Street Projects/Repairs:
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Eucalyptus Dr. Street Paving Project
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Pacheco Dr. Street Repair
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Tampico Ave. Street Repair
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Towt St. Street Repair
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Victor St. Traffic Calming Project
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Rainer Dr. Traffic Calming Project
Community:
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Funded Alisal Vibrancy Plan
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Hebbreon Heights Community Center
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Removed ban on cruising
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Cesar Chavez soccer fields and park upgrades
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Allocated 2 Millions to park repairs
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Allocated funding for Salinas Valley Promise
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Allocated funding for science workshop
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Allocated 5 million to Alisal Vibrancy Plan
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Created Mobile Crisis Unit
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6 million sidewalks
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6 million streets
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Closed Sun Street Transfer Centers