Merced residents will have another chance this week to hear from the candidates running for mayor, just as ballots are arriving in the mail.
Ballots are scheduled to be sent out Monday, and the candidate forum is scheduled for Tuesday, hosted by Merced Asian Pacific American Public Affairs.
Mayor Matt Serratto, who is wrapping up his first term, and former City Councilmember Anthony Martinez are running for the seat. Every voter in the city limits will see their names on the ballot.
Martinez is a high school teacher, and Serratto is a prosecutor for Stanislaus County.
The debate will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8 in the Sam Pipes Room at the Merced Civic Center, where the city council meets.
According to the group’s social media flyers, the event is designed to give community members the chance to meet and interact with the candidates running for mayor, and provide attendees with insights into each candidate’s vision, priorities and plans for the city.
Three other Merced City Council seats are up for election: Districts 1, 3 and 5.
District 1 Councilmember Jesse Ornelas is not seeking a second term. Candidates Walter Smith, a coach and city planning commissioner, and Darin DuPont, a civil attorney, are vying to replace him.
Bertha Perez, who represents District 3, also chose not to seek re-election. Vying for her seat are three candidates: retired sheriff’s sergeant and planning commissioner Mike Harris, Merced SPCA president Cynthia Kelly and Sair Lara Rodriguez, who is an educator and business owner.
Incumbent Councilmember Sarah Boyle is seeking re-election and faces two challengers: Felipe Rojas-Flores, a public interest attorney, and Alex Carrillo, a communications and policy director.
Election Day is Nov. 5. Visit Merced County’s webpage for more information about what’s on the ballot, how to register to vote and where and when to vote.