Avenal Officials Move to Arvin | Bakersfield News

Avenal’s political turmoil just got stranger: after voters recalled nearly the entire city council and mayor, officials are refusing to step down — leading to a bizarre brain drain. Former Avenal police chief Cecilio Velasco officially took Arvin’s top cop role in July 2026, following a nationwide search. Meanwhile, his former deputy Robert Nevarez quietly transitioned into a $195/hour consulting gig with Arvin while still drawing his $147K annual salary from Avenal — until he retired “in good standing” just days before Velasco’s appointment. Both bring Kern County policing experience, but their moves raise eyebrows amid Avenal’s ongoing chaos. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f200ebef116b8fdd