[Stanislaus County] Patterson mayoral, council candidates keep it mostly civil at debate

October 8, 2014

The Modesto Bee

By Garth Stapley

PATTERSON — Candidates mostly minded their manners Wednesday in debates focused on many issues facing one of Stanislaus County’s most strategically located, fastest-growing areas.

All five members of the Patterson City Council participated, with the mayor challenged by two council members and the other two defending their seats in a separate forum. A total of nine candidates are gunning for the three seats, and Wednesday’s event seemed ripe for verbal warfare.

But moderator Ed Katen – mayor of neighboring Newman – and sponsoring Soroptimist timers brought a short leash. Even when they seemed to invite sparring by asking mayoral candidates about true leadership, challengers largely chose civility over sparks.

“(Leadership) has nothing to do with one’s title, power or seniority in business,” said Dominic Farinha, one of two council members trying to unseat Mayor Luis Molina. “It’s really about the ability of one individual to work with everyone to make sure they stay on track.”

The other, Councilwoman Sheree Lustgarten, said city leaders need to “work as a united front.”

Ralph Arredondo, the only mayoral candidate among four who doesn’t hold elected office, said he envisions someone leading men into battle.

Molina briefly showed a defensive side, saying, “If you’re not willing to get your hands dirty, you’re not willing to do the job.” He said being mayor requires “a little tough love from time to time.”

Arredondo hinted in his opening statement that he might go on the attack, saying he would shorten City Council meetings and “put a stop to negative grand jury reports.” The civil grand jury recently found fault with procedures involving aspects of open meetings.

But Arredondo struggled to answer questions about finances and public safety.

Lustgarten said the council has missed a major opportunity for money by failing to raise development fees in several years – a fact that surely helped Patterson attract huge warehouses for Amazon, Restoration Hardware and others.

Lustgarten said the grand jury had good reason to question private meetings. “I feel open government is the best way to go,” she said.

Farinha, however, said grand juries can be “hijacked by people who don’t get their way.”

Molina said he has been leading a “cleanup council” charged with fixing problems left by predecessors.