First female mayor elected in Parlier

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- People in Parlier elected their first female mayor during the recent election.

Alma Beltran is scheduled to take office at the beginning of 2015. She says there are plenty of challenges in Parlier including a gang problem, a high unemployment rate and a strained budget.

The 47-year-old, mother of four will continue working as a correctional officer while serving as mayor. She says her goal is to hire more police officers after budget cuts in recent years resulted in layoffs.

"In the prison we are releasing a lot of inmates and where are they going to go? They are going to where there is not a lot of patrolling. I know that. I am in law enforcement," said Beltran.

Beltran says if the city hires more officers, investors will feel safer and more confident to set up businesses in Parlier.