Differences in priorities and personalities between Modesto City Council candidates became clearer at a recent live debate moderated by The Modesto Focus.
It’s clear that the incumbents – Eric Alvarez representing downtown and west and south Modesto in District 2, and Jeremiah Williams in north-central Modesto’s District 5 – feel they’re on the right track. Their challengers – Juan Telles and Jared Sylvia, respectively in Districts 2 and 5 – say they offer something different.
For example, Alvarez and Williams are fine with license plate readers, often referred to by the brand name Flock cameras, while Telles and Sylvia are less comfortable with them.
The challengers also favor repealing the city’s controversial ban on masks at public protests, while Alvarez supports the ban. Williams declined to answer, citing a high-stakes lawsuit brought against City Hall by the American Civil Liberties Union and others.
The council members also feel Modesto must grow to regain a competitive economic edge, while the challengers are more sympathetic to “don’t tread on me” pleas from neighboring Wood Colony and Salida. The council recently approved the most aggressive growth option placed before it in the ongoing General Plan process.
If drama is your thing, the spiciest part came when The Modesto Focus gave candidates a chance to ask their opponent a question. That led to a tense exchange between Telles and Alvarez about showing up for constituents, while Sylvia and Williams preferred to express brotherly love.
Jon Rodriguez, another District 2 challenger, did not attend.
Voters also will see Councilman Nick Bavaro on the Nov. 3 ballot – they should have arrived by now in the mail – but he’s not opposed in District 4 and will be re-elected.
Less controversial were candidates’ positions on data centers (no one wants them), Modesto police (all support public safety), school bonds facing Modesto voters (all support school facilities) and animal services (all are concerned).
But differences in their approach and leadership style come through in the words they choose, and how they use them. It’s worth a watch.
Cohosting the debate were the NAACP Modesto/Stanislaus and the Stanislaus Veterans Services Office.
Editor’s Note: An additional version of this full debate video with Spanish-language subtitles will be uploaded next week. Technical difficulties prevented its publication with the original post.
Garth Stapley is the accountability reporter for The Modesto Focus, a project of the nonprofit Central Valley Journalism Collaborative. Contact him at garth@themodestofocus.org.