Duarte resigns position on Valley-Wide Board of Directors

Matthew Duarte has served on the Valley-Wide Board of Directors since 2015. File photo

Longtime Menifee resident Matthew Duarte has resigned his position on the Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District Board of Directors, effective Oct. 1.

Duarte recently announced on his Facebook page that he had resigned his position with a local law firm to accept a new job opportunity in northern California. He has served on the Valley-Wide board since 2015, when he was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Rose Salgado.

This year, Duarte was serving as board president.

"It has been an honor to serve the people of our district and I wish nothing but the best for the district and all our residents," Duarte wrote in his resignation letter. "I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish during my nearly four years of service."

Duarte, who grew up playing on the fields Valley-Wide still maintains in Menifee, was one of the biggest proponents for Valley-Wide when the City of Menifee first created its own parks and recreation department and began to seek control of all parks in the city.

"Growing up in Menifee, I had an understanding of what Valley-Wide has done and has continued to do for the community," Duarte said in 2015. "When I interviewed for the position, I pitched that historically, there hasn't been a voice from Menifee. It was important with all the stuff going on with the city the last year, there was a clamoring to have somebody represent those interests."

Valley-Wide operates more than 80 parks and recreation centers in Hemet, San Jacinto, Winchester, Menifee, French Valley, Sage and Aguanga. Board members will discuss how to replace Duarte during their Oct 15 meeting. His replacement will serve until 2020.

Those interested in being appointed to the position can submit a questionnaire, which is available at the Valley-Wide District Office, 901 W. Esplanade Ave. in San Jacinto. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Nov. 5.