Problem-solver, Esq.

A desire to help people solve problems drew Alex Dominguez into politics, law.

By California State University, Bakersfield

February 26^th, 2021

Alex Dominguez is the 2021 Alumni Rising `Runner from the School of Social Sciences and Education.

The constituent called with a complaint: A PG&E electrical box was blocking full use of his driveway.

Alex Dominguez, working as an intern for Kern County Supervisor Mike Maggard, was assigned to help the man. Dominguez worked with county staff and the utility company to resolve the issue.

“He called me like every day for a month and was just so appreciative, (saying), ‘Hey, thanks so much. I’m able to pull into my driveway now,’” Dominguez said of the man. “He even sent me pictures of it.”

Dominguez knew then he wanted to make a career out of helping people solve problems.

That’s what Dominguez does as a water lawyer at the Bakersfield firm Klein DeNatale Goldner, where he’s helping build up an ag practice. Anyone interested in interesting legal disputes and long-term employment will find plenty of both in the Kern County water world.

Dominguez’s entre into law followed years of work in politics while earning his college degrees. He interned for Maggard, was a field representative for Congressman David Valadao, R-Hanford, and worked for the Bakersfield governmental affairs firm Yankee Communications, which taught him about politics from the private sector side.

Along the way, Dominguez served as student body president at both Bakersfield College and CSUB. Under his leadership, CSUB Associated Students Inc. started a scholarship program funded through the sale of $10 stickers placed on ID cards that got students discounts at local businesses.

“That’s one of the things that I’m most proud of,” he said of his time as ASI president. “It’s all funded by students, and it’s really going out there and helping some of the most in-need students that we have.”

Dominguez is the son of Wasco High School sweethearts and grew up in Bakersfield. After graduating from Centennial High, he enrolled at Bakersfield College thinking that was a good place to figure out what he wanted to do with his life.

After taking a variety of courses his first year, Dominguez found himself drawn to debating political issues and finding solutions to political problems. Political science became his major — and his early career.

One day, Dominguez went down to Bakersfield City Hall looking for internship opportunities. He didn’t find any, but someone suggested he try the county supervisors’ offices further down Truxtun Avenue.

After figuring out what a county supervisor was, Dominguez knocked on the door of his county rep: Maggard. He interviewed with Chief of Staff Jeff Flores on the spot, talked high school sports with Maggard the next day, and was welcomed onto the 3rd Supervisorial District team.

“It’s really a matter of asking,” Dominguez said of discovering and seizing on opportunities. “A lot of people don’t get asked.”

Another secret to his success: Being the last to leave the office at the end of each day.

“I didn’t leave until Jeff left or until Jeff was like, ‘Seriously, get out. You’re fine.’”

Dominguez served as president of BC’s student government in 2014-15, which led to a year as a Kern Community College District trustee. KCCD oversees Bakersfield, Porterville and Cerro Coso Community colleges. He also worked for Valadao, representing the congressman in, and learning about the agricultural and water issues facing, the southern San Joaquin Valley district.

Dominguez earned his AA in 2015 and transferred to CSUB, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science in 2017. During his CSUB years, he worked for the governmental affairs firm Yankee Communications, which helps private clients such as PG&E, the Bakersfield Association of Realtors and Dignity Health build relationships with and influence local and state policymakers.

“I had always been on the receiving end of everyone’s pitches working for the congressman,” Dominguez said. “Working with Jimmy (Yee, Yankee’s president), I got to see the flip side of that.”

Mentors and friends started encouraging Dominguez to apply to law school, but he thought he couldn’t afford it. CSUB Vice President of Student Affairs Thomas Wallace connected him with a representative of his alma mater, Ole Miss, who shared information about scholarships and the low cost of living in Oxford, Miss.

Dominguez ended up paying just $8,000 a year to study law, and earned his degree in 2020. A self-described mama’s boy, Dominguez says going away to school was really good for him.

“I think if I had stayed and gotten a master’s degree at CSUB, I would have spent another two years just living with mom and dad, and doing the same old stuff,” Dominguez said. “So it was really a growing up experience that helped me a lot.”