CSAC Member Spotlight: Calaveras County Supervisor Amanda Folendorf

Supervisor Amanda Folendorf didn’t enter public service to make history. She entered it to serve her community. 

“I was so focused on what was right for my community and making sure things were done,” she said. “I wasn’t focusing on that aspect… of breaking barriers.” 

Yet over the course of her career, she has done exactly that. Folendorf is both the first Deaf woman mayor in the United States and the first Deaf member of the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors. Her presence in Calaveras County has helped broaden what representation in local government can look like. 

Her introduction to public service came early, shaped by a family deeply rooted in Calaveras County civic life and a community where involvement wasn’t something you opted into – it was part of how things worked. That foundation shaped a leadership style centered on collaboration, accountability, and service. As national attention followed her historic representation, Folendorf and her colleagues found themselves having broader conversations about accessibility and inclusion in local government. 

“It put you, even our board, in a position where we had to pay attention,” she said. “How do we collaborate? How do we integrate various abilities, cultures, and languages?”  

Under Folendorf’s leadership, those conversations have translated into action. One example is expanding voter accessibility by incorporating American Sign Language into election materials and outreach efforts.  

“There’s a lot of fear around what people don’t understand,” she said. “We’re working to make sure people know how to access services and feel included.” 

That kind of progress requires creativity, persistence, and strong partnerships – particularly in rural counties balancing limited resources with growing community needs. For Folendorf, meeting those challenges starts with collaboration and a recognition that effective leadership is always a team effort. 

That team-focused approach extends beyond government operations. Folendorf says her success has always been rooted in the people around her – family, Community, and colleagues. 

“The confidence they had that I could lead. That’s what made it possible,” she said.  

That support system has allowed her not only to step into leadership and continue growing in it. 

While Folendorf may not have set out to be a trailblazer, her impact is undeniable. By serving as a young woman in local government and as a member of the Deaf community, she has helped open doors for others who may not have seen themselves reflected in public office. 

Her story is a reminder that leadership doesn’t come from fitting into a mold. It comes from showing up, doing the work, and representing your community with authenticity. And in Calaveras County, that’s exactly what Supervisor Amanda Folendorf continues to do.