Eddie Lopez

Sarah M. Enz, Imperial County Public Administrator, announces the Imperial County Indigent Burial Program will host its fifth Indigent Burial Ceremony at Terrace Park Cemetery in Holtville on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. 

Through the Indigent Burial Program, decedents meeting the criteria shall be afforded a dignified burial commensurate whether they are indigent or their family is financially unable to pay for their final disposition. When the responsibility for disposition becomes the duty of the County of Imperial, the decedent’s evidence intent is to take priority. Upon approval, applicants are limited to direct cremation. The County of Imperial does not supplement funds already available to the family or decedent for funeral arrangements. 

For more information on this project or any other services offered by the Public Administrator, Public Guardian or senior services through the Area Agency on Aging, contact the Imperial County Public Administrator’s office at (442) 265-7000 or visit their website at www.aaa24.org.

The Imperial County Department of Planning & Development is alerting the public and applicants about a recent increase in “false invoicing” scams. These scams involve individuals or entities falsely claiming affiliation with Imperial County and requesting payment for services or fees that are not legitimate.

Important Safety Tips:

• Official emails from Imperial County staff will only come from addresses ending with
  @co.imperial.ca.us. Always double-check the sender before responding or sending any
  payment.
  
• If you receive an invoice or communication that seems suspicious, do not respond
  immediately. Contact the intended county department directly to verify the request.
  
• Any suspicious communication should be reported to the Internet Crime Complaint Center
  (IC3) at https://www.ic3.gov and/or your local police department.
  We encourage everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

Supervisor Peggy Price, District 3, joined the Imperial County Public Works Department and leadership from the Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro to recognize the quick emergency response that ensured safe access to the base during recent storms.

When the first major storm closed Bennet Road. The main route to NAF, and left Haskel and Havens Roads flooded and unsafe, County Public Works mobilized under the declared emergency to pave and upgrade these critical secondary routes.

As Supervisor Price stated:

“The entry to the Naval Air Facility (NAF) was closed after the first storm due to damaged power poles. The secondary roads to the base were flooded and dangerous to travel in and out of the base. After a collaborative meeting with NAF leadership we were able to resolve the problem. I want to thank our Public Works Department staff for pivoting to make the repairs and paving to Haskel and Havens Roads. We now have a safe roadway for residents and civilians, including children, families, staff and our military serving our country. I also want to thank the Imperial Irrigation District for their quick response to restore power, repair the lines and poles in Seeley during the storms.”

This project highlights the importance of collaboration between the County of Imperial, NAF, and the Imperial Irrigation District to keep our community connected, safe, and prepared for future storms.

The Imperial County Department of Social Services (ICDSS) is informing residents that benefits under the federal CalFresh Program (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) have been restored for November 2025. Customers who normally receive benefits between the 1st and 7th day of each month should have received their benefits overnight and throughout the day today. Customers who normally receive their benefits between the 8th and 10th day of each month will see no interruption in service.

Customers should:

Continue submitting any required verification requests.
Monitor EBT balance and issuance status via the ebtEDGE mobile application, online portalat www.ebtEDGE.com, or by calling the number on the back of their card.

Contact the Imperial Valley Food Bank at https://www.ivfoodbank.com/ or (760) 370-0966 for continued food assistance.

Stay informed by visiting www.benefitsCal.com and the Imperial County Social Services websiteat https://www.imperialcountysocialservices.org/ or (760) 337-6800

To assist local families affected by this delay, consider donating or volunteering at the Imperial Valley FoodBank. Donations will help sustain food distribution efforts for those impacted by the disruption in services.

Imperial County officials are closely monitoring proposed flight reductions announced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). At this time, all scheduled flights are expected to operate as planned.

Residents and travelers are encouraged to stay informed through official channels. Should any disruptions occur, the County will provide updates promptly.

For more information, visit https://www.iflysouthern.com.

El Centro, CA – The Imperial County Registrar of Voters has released the first “Unofficial Election Results” update on the Registrar’s website at https://elections.imperialcounty.org/ for the California Proposition 50 – Congressional Redistricting measure.

The first report, released at 8:00 p.m., includes all vote-by-mail ballots received through Monday, November 3, 2025. Please note that these results are preliminary and not final.

Additional results will be posted every two hours throughout the evening as in-person votes from polling locations are processed and reported. Once all polling sites have submitted their results, counting for the evening will conclude.

Beginning Wednesday, November 5, 2025, updated results will be released each weekday at 5:00 p.m. until the canvassing process is complete and the election is certified.

As required by the State of California, the Imperial County Registrar of Voters has until Tuesday, December 4, 2025, to certify the official results. The post-election canvass involves careful verification of vote-by-mail and provisional ballots to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the election.

Registrar staff continue to work diligently to complete the process and appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as every valid ballot is counted.

For ongoing updates and more information, please visit the Imperial County Registrar of Voters website at https://elections.imperialcounty.org/.

The Imperial County Department of Social Services (ICDSS) is informing residents that due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, benefits under the federal CalFresh Program (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) will be delayed for November 2025 until funding is restored.

How This Impacts You

• Benefits for October 2025 have already been issued and are available for use as normal.
• If federal funding remains unavailable, new issuance of CalFresh benefits for November will be delayed.
• You do not need to reapply. Your case remains active. Social Services will continue to accept new CalFresh applications, and process recertifications (renewals), periodic reports and changes of household.
• Other assistance programs such as CalWORKs and MediCal are currently not impacted.
• If you still have benefits available on your Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, you may continue to use them as usual

• Continue submitting any required verification requests. This ensures your case remains ready for
  benefits once federal funding is restored.
• Monitor your EBT balance and issuance status via the ebtEDGE mobile application, online portal at www.ebtEDGE.com, or call the number on the back of your card.
• If your household needs food assistance, please contact the Imperial Valley Food Bank
  https://www.ivfoodbank.com/ or (760) 370-0966.
• Stay informed by visiting www.benefitsCal.com and the Imperial County Social Services website at
  https://www.imperialcountysocialservices.org/.

To assist local families affected by this delay, consider donating or volunteering at the Imperial Valley Food Bank. Donations will help sustain food distribution efforts as the county navigates this temporary disruption in services.

Imperial County, CA – The County of Imperial is pleased to announce the appointment of Eddie López as the new Deputy CEO of Communications. In this role, López will oversee the County’s internal and external communication strategies, ensuring clear, consistent, and modern messaging across all departments and platforms.

López brings over 15 years of experience in communications, marketing, and multimedia across public and private sectors. As the former Administrative Analyst and Multimedia Specialist for the Imperial County Public Health Department, he played a pivotal role in the County’s communication efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, developing campaigns, marketing strategies, and multimedia content including design, audio, web, and social media initiatives.

Most recently, López served as the Public Information Officer at the Executive Office, where he has been instrumental in modernizing and standardizing both internal and external communications across the County. He has led public relations efforts, supported numerous departments with centralized campaigns and annual events, and played a key role in revamping the County’s visual identity and communication style.

In his new role, López is eager to build upon that foundation by introducing new branding initiatives,establishing comprehensive communications policies, and developing clear procedures that strengthen transparency and accessibility for the public. He has extensive experience in government and legislative affairs and has also provided communications support to other counties during critical events, including the Borel and Eaton Fires, all while continuing to manage and support ongoing communications operations here at Imperial County during those deployments.

López holds a Bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Arts from The Art Institute of California.

“I am truly honored to take on this role,” said López. “Serving the residents of Imperial County and supporting our teams in delivering clear and meaningful communication is both a privilege and a responsibility I take to heart. I look forward to building on our successes, introducing innovative strategies, and continuing to elevate how we connect with our community. I also want to thank my family for their unconditional love and support, which inspire and motivate me every day to give my best in service to our County.”

Chairman Hawk of the Imperial County Board of Supervisors added, “Eddie’s leadership, creativity, and experience make him the perfect person to guide our communications. His work has already had a lasting impact on our County, and we are excited to see his vision shape the future of how we engage with our residents.”

The following Imperial County departments and offices will be closed to the public on
Wednesday, October 22, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to allow employees to participate in
the annual Imperial County Employee Health and Benefits Fair:

• Air Pollution Control District
• Assessor’s Office
• Auditor-Controller
• Child Support Services
• District Attorney
• ICERS (Imperial County Employees’ Retirement System)
• Public Health
• Planning & Development
• Purchasing Department
• Public Works
• Treasurer & Tax Collector
• Workforce & Economic Development

Please note that the Human Resources and Risk Management Office will be closed all day on
October 22, 2025