Wilton Rancheria Chairman Jesus G. Tarango Jr. was born and raised in Sacramento, California, his traditional homeland of Miwok and Nisenan people. Chairman Tarango began his service to the citizens of Wilton Rancheria when elected to the Tribal Council in 2016, where he served as Tribal Council Spokesperson. In 2018, he had the honor of being elected Vice-Chairman and was elected for his first term as Chairman in 2020.  He is proud to lead the Capital Tribe as it enters a time of historic growth and development.
 
Chairman Tarango brings a commitment to preserving and restoring traditional Miwok and Nisenan values. He has been a traditional dancer and singer since childhood and is passionate about empowering his community through traditional teachings and practice. Chairman Tarango is dedicated to advocating for and addressing issues that impact the people of his Tribe and all of Indian Country including: the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) epidemic, tribal cultural resource protection and preservation, education at all levels, and tribal self-determination and sovereignty.
 
Chairman Tarango has also embraced a role in statewide leadership. He proudly serves as the Chairman for the Central California Tribal Chairpersons’ Association. He also sits on the Executive Board of the California Tribal Chairpersons’ Association as Vice-Chairman. He is currently a member of the American Leadership Forum’s Fellow Class XXVII to continue to develop his leadership skills and capacity while building a strong network of leaders.
 
Chairman Tarango was preceded in his service to Wilton Rancheria by his mother, Chairwoman Emeritus Mary Tarango. Chairwoman Tarango was elected as Wilton Rancheria’s first Chairperson and led the Tribe during the fight to have its federal recognition status restored. Chairman Tarango is grateful to have been able to learn from her guidance and follow on the path that she worked so hard to create. Prior to his tenure at Wilton Rancheria, Chairman Tarango had over 20 years of management experience with a Fortune 500 company. He is a devoted husband and proud father of six children.