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Hey Focus fans!
The filing period to run for office in the Nov. 3 election opened this week and closes Aug. 7. If you’re thinking of running, think quick!
Just a few among dozens of offices up for grabs across Stanislaus County:
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Modesto City Council, Districts 2, 4 and 5
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Modesto City Schools Board, Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7
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Modesto Irrigation District, Divisions 2, 3 and 4
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Stanislaus County Board of Education, Districts 1, 2 and 5
Many other city councils and school and water boards in many Stanislaus cities and towns will hold elections as well. See the county clerk-recorder’s lengthy list, which does not include races run by their own agencies, such as the Modesto council or Modesto schools board.
The November ballot will also decide some races whose first voting round was in the June 2 primary, including:
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House of Representatives District 5 – Incumbent Tom McClintock, a Republican, and Democrat Michael Masuda
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House of Representatives District 13 – Incumbent Adam Gray, a Democrat, and Republican Kevin Lincoln
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California Senate District 4 – Republican Alexandra Duarte and Democrat Jordan Brandon
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California Assembly District 9 – Incumbent Heath Flora, a Republican, and Democrat Matthew Adams
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But that’s not all!
Ceres voters will confront a new sales tax proposal, The Ceres Courier reports. The one-cent increase would bump sales tax there to 9.375%, highest in the county, bringing the city about $9.4 million more revenue each year.
And Riverbank voters will weigh in on the controversial River Walk proposal that eventually could bring 2,400 new homes to nearly 1,000 acres west of the city along the Stanislaus River.
And many Modesto residents will decide school bonds for two different districts – Modesto City Schools and the Sylvan Union School District. Some taxpayers live in both.
Knowing that too many school bonds on one ballot could overwhelm taxpayers, Yosemite Community College District recently paused consideration for bonds for Modesto Junior College and Columbia College. They might go for it in 2028 though, interim Chancellor Lena Tran said in a public message.
That’s a lot. What am I missing? Feel free to shoot me a note for a future column: garth@themodestofocus.org.
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Oh yeah – statewide measures. No less than 14 on this ballot, including a billionaire tax, an $11 billion affordable housing bond and voter ID requirements.
Here’s an excellent breakdown by our CalMatters partners.
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ICYMI
The following recent write-ups in local media are noteworthy.
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US House Speaker Mike Johnson came to show support for Lincoln.
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Sacramento Bee opinion writer Robin Epley, a former colleague, penned a blistering column about Duarte, the front-runner in a red-leaning district that includes Riverbank, Oakdale and Salida.
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And various conservative news agencies including the New York Post and the California Globe took to task the state Assembly’s two most powerful Republicans, both from Modesto – Heath Flora and Juan Alanis – for working with Democrats instead of fighting them.
The two voted on July 2 for Senate Bill 762 to enable some cities and counties higher-than-normal sales taxes – to help their people.
At a time when many Americans are exasperated by polarizing political wars, it might be nice to see pats on the back instead of scolding for having the guts to put constituents before party.
If summoning the courage to buck party hardliners is more your cup of tea, a recent opinion column in the Turlock Journal by longtime operative Mike Lynch might resonate. One part reads:
“Are the great majority of Trump voters fascists, racist, mean-spirited deplorables? No. Likewise, are most of the votes for candidates other than Trump from socialists, anti-Americans, ‘dumbocratic’ free loaders who favor criminals and communism? Again, no.
“The issues today demand sober discussion, not sound bite assaults.”
Feel free to share notes, tips and insights for Stanislaus-centric campaign coverage at garth@themodestofocus.org.
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