The D1 Team

Paola Martinez-Montes 
Director of Community Engagement

Paola Martinez-Montes serves as Director of Community Engagement for Supervisor Paloma Aguirre, leading districtwide outreach, partnerships, and community initiatives. She previously served as Tribal Administrator for the Manzanita Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and as Senior Advisor and Director of Community Engagement at the County Board of Supervisors. Paola also led ACCE San Diego and the Invest in San Diego Families Coalition, securing major public investments in underserved communities. An alumna of the HOPE Leadership Institute, she is the former Chair of the Chula Vista Human Relations Commission. She lives in Chula Vista. 

Paola.Martinez-Montes@sdcounty.ca.gov

Marianne Delatorre
Senior Community Representative

Marianne Delatorre serves as Senior Community Representative and Special Advisor on Veterans, Cultural Advocacy, and Women’s Initiatives for Supervisor Aguirre. She represents National City, Chula Vista, Bonita-Sunnyside, and Lincoln Acres. Previously, she was the Community Engagement Manager at the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, where she led the Hidden Heroes program and built national partnerships to support military and veteran caregivers. Raised in National City, Marianne holds bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Ethnic Studies from UC San Diego and has served in leadership roles across regional organizations and commissions.

Marianne.Delatorre@sdcounty.ca.gov

Daniel (Danny) Avitia
Community Representative

Daniel “Danny” Avitia serves as a Community Representative for Supervisor Aguirre, supporting outreach, constituent services, and district partnerships. Raised across South Bay neighborhoods, Danny brings experience in political campaigns, nonprofit initiatives, and volunteer coordination. He was the first San Diego State graduate to earn a BS in Leadership Studies alongside a BA in Sociology and holds a Leadership Certificate from the Glazer Center. Fluent in Spanish, Danny serves on the Downtown Community Planning Committee and lives in downtown San Diego.

Danny.Avitia@sdcounty.ca.gov

Andrés Geurts-Barreto
Community Representative

Andrés Geurts-Barreto serves as a Community Representative for Supervisor Aguirre, supporting constituent services, community partnerships, and policy outreach. A native San Diegan, he previously worked for the U.S. House of Representatives in San Diego and Washington, D.C., and later in the California State Assembly. His experience spans legislative affairs, public service, and community engagement. Andrés holds a BA in Political Science–International Relations from UC San Diego and an MA in International Relations–Diplomacy Studies from the University of Haifa. He is committed to strengthening government accessibility.

Andres.Geurts@sdcounty.ca.gov

Lyle Pavuk
Director of Policy

Lyle Pavuk serves as Director of Policy for Supervisor Aguirre, leading initiatives related to health, housing, environmental sustainability, and social equity. A former healthcare professional turned public servant, he brings expertise in population health, health promotion, and systems reform. Lyle holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, a BA in Education, and advanced training in Population Health Management. His work focuses on enhancing healthcare access and quality, homelessness solutions, affordable housing development, health promotion, and advancing independence for seniors and people with disabilities. Lyle lives in Imperial Beach.

Lyle.Pavuk@sdcounty.ca.gov

Stefanie Sekich
Special Advisor

Stefanie Sekich serves as Special Advisor to Supervisor Aguirre, bringing over 20 years of experience in environmental policy. Her work has focused on coastal protection, climate adaptation, marine conservation, and sustainable land-use planning. She has led major advocacy campaigns resulting in strengthened environmental safeguards and improved regulatory frameworks. Stefanie holds an MA in Environmental Law and Policy from Keele University and is known for translating complex science and law into actionable public policy.

Stefanie.Sekich@sdcounty.ca.gov

Tosin Oyadiran
Policy Advisor, HHSA

Tosin Oyadiran serves as Policy Advisor for Health and Human Services, advancing public health, legislative analysis, and equity-focused policy for District 1. She has worked across nonprofit, government, and private sectors in roles centered on health policy and evidence-based practices. Tosin holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of Lagos, a Doctor of Medicine from Avalon University, and a Master of Public Health from the University of Texas Medical Branch. She is committed to strengthening equitable community health systems.

Tosin.Oyadiran@sdcounty.ca.gov

Emilio R. Galván
Policy Advisor, Public Safety Group

Emilio R. Galván serves as Policy Advisor for the Public Safety Group, advancing equitable public safety strategies focused on prevention, accountability, and community resilience. With more than a decade of experience, he has worked in immigration, juvenile justice, violence prevention, and diversion programs. Emilio has led detention- and court-based services, gang intervention initiatives, and reunification efforts for unaccompanied minors. Raised in San Diego by a Mexican and Guatemalan immigrant family, he brings cultural fluency and deep community trust to his work.

Emilio.Galvan@sdcounty.ca.gov

Kyle LaVelle
Policy Advisor, LUEG

Kyle LaVelle serves as Policy Advisor for the Land Use and Environment Group. He focuses on housing, climate resilience, transportation equity, and sustainable land use. Raised in the Midwest by a social worker and an environmental engineer, he studied Sustainable Development and Economics at Truman State University and earned an MSc in Environmental Science, Management, and Policy from Lund University in Sweden. Kyle has worked across Asia, Europe, and the U.S., including on multi-country USAID climate programs. He joined Supervisor Aguirre’s office in 2025.

Kyle.LaVelle@sdcounty.ca.gov

Diane Castañeda
Director of Communications

Diane Castañeda serves as Director of Communications for Supervisor Aguirre, leading strategic messaging, media relations, and community-focused communications. A bilingual communications specialist with over 15 years of experience, she previously worked at Digital Impact & and WILDCOAST, supporting digital strategy and public education campaigns across the U.S.–Mexico border region. Diane focuses on elevating underrepresented voices and making complex policy accessible. Born and raised in the San Diego–Tijuana region, she lives in Chula Vista with her family.

Diane.Castaneda@sdcounty.ca.gov

Kathryn DeGeller
Digital Media Manager

Kathryn DeGeller serves as Digital Media Manager for Supervisor Aguirre, leading digital strategy and creating accessible, community-centered content. She previously served as Digital Director for Council President Joe LaCava and as Digital Content Manager at the County Board of Supervisors. Kathryn also worked on Capitol Hill for Representatives Mike Levin and Suzan DelBene. A San Diego native, she holds a BA in Communications and Information Sciences from the University of Alabama and is committed to improving civic engagement through digital communication.

Kathryn.DeGeller@sdcounty.ca.gov

Michael Sweeney
Multimedia Designer

Michael Sweeney serves as Multimedia Designer for Supervisor Aguirre, producing visual content and video communications that support District 1’s community-focused mission. He holds a BFA in Film and Television Production from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and spent a decade working on award-winning films and television projects in New York. After moving to San Diego in 2019, he specialized in political advertising for local and national Democratic campaigns. Michael brings a narrative-driven approach to public-sector communications.

Michael.Sweeney@sdcounty.ca.gov

Brenda Argüelles
Executive Assistant

Brenda Argüelles serves as Executive Assistant to Supervisor Aguirre, supporting office operations, scheduling, and constituent services. She brings more than eight years of public-sector experience. Brenda began her career with the County’s Behavioral Health Services department, supporting directors and management teams on mental health programs. She later served as Executive Assistant in the City of Imperial Beach, supporting the Mayor, City Council, and City Manager. A San Ysidro resident, Brenda is committed to accessible, responsive public service.

Brenda.Arguelles@sdcounty.ca.gov

Paul Worlie
Chief of Staff

Paul Worlie serves as Chief of Staff to Supervisor Aguirre, overseeing strategic operations, policy development, communications, and organizational management. He brings more than 20 years of experience in government and public affairs, including service as Senior Advisor to the County Chief Administrative Officer and as an aide to U.S. Senate Majority Leaders Harry Reid and Tom Daschle. Before joining the office, Paul led The Worlie Group, supporting nonprofits, health systems, labor, and public agencies. A resident of unincorporated San Diego County, he is committed to strengthening public institutions.

Paul.Worlie@sdcounty.ca.gov

Dasha
Chief Happiness Officer

Dasha serves as Chief Happiness Officer of the County Administration Building, specializing in morale-boosting, snack diplomacy, and tail-wag outreach. Her duties include strategic napping, wellness check-ins, and rigorous trash-can inspections, which she considers critical to operational quality control. Dasha plays an essential role in promoting staff well-being and reminding everyone that meetings improve with treats. She is widely regarded as the most popular member of the office.