County of San Joaquin

Ron Freitas was elected to the position of district attorney in 2022, besting Tori Verber Salazar in the June primary and denying the incumbent a third term. Prior to his run, Freitas had served the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office in many capacities, including supervising deputy district attorney of the Gang Violence Suppression Unit, and the assistant district attorney.

In his official biography on the county website, Freitas emphasizes his efforts to combat gang violence and crime. As the chief deputy district attorney of Homicide and Gang Divisions, he assisted in the investigation, charging determinations, and supervision of 150 murder prosecutions.

In contrast to his day job, as a volunteer Freitas focuses on the field of education. While serving as a board member for the Lodi Unified School District, in 2016 Freitas was president of the Yes on Measure U campaign committee in which voters approved the issuance of $280 million in bonds for new construction and renovations in Lodi and North Stockton schools.

The standard term for the county’s district attorney is four years, but Freitas gets two extra years in the position due to a new state law, Assembly Bill 759, designed to line up both district attorney and sheriff’s races with the presidential election.

First elected: June 7, 2022

Alma maters: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law

Other positions held: Board member, Lodi Unified School District (2012-2022), co-founder and co-chairman of the LUSD Board Safety Committee, president of the Giving Opportunities to Kids Foundation (2019-2020).

Notable quote: “There is work to be done in order to ensure the safety of neighborhoods and communities in every corner of San Joaquin County. I look forward to the next six years and bringing common sense back to the criminal justice system in our county.” (Source: Stocktonia)