There are already plenty of political fireworks on Merced County’s Westside, with still three months left until Election Day.
Recently a Merced County judge extended a restraining order filed by a sitting Los Banos City Council member against a candidate for mayor.
Journalist Mike Dunbar reported in The Westside Express that Judge Jennifer O. Trimble extended Councilmember Brett Jones’ restraining order against Refugio Llamas until Oct. 31 (the order was sought on June 19).
Llamas, a former council member himself, is running against Mayor Paul Llanez in November.
Jones has accused Llamas of grabbing his elbow and making threats after a council meeting. Llamas denied the accusations, saying they are politically motivated.
Leaders of Los Banos have been the subject of numerous articles by the Westside Express ever since the council last year voted to rehire City Manager Josh Pinheiro, who had been fired.
The council then voted to pay Pinheiro $1.8 million to prevent him from filing a lawsuit over his termination.
The upcoming election could be a game-changer for Los Banos, as every council seat is on the ballot, including the mayor, whose term is only two years.
The four council districts are staggered so that two are up for election during even numbered years.
That means incumbents District 1 Councilmember Ken Lambert and District 4 Councilmember Deborah Lewis are on the ballot.
Plus, District 2 Councilmember Douglas Begonia and District 3 Councilmember Brett Jones are facing a recall. If recalled, the new council would decide how to replace them.
So far Lewis has a challenger in Travis “TJ” Loebig, who operates a pool service, according to Westside Express.
Lewis frequently votes against the majority of the council, questioning the city’s expenditures, budget and the decisions of city manager Pinheiro.
She also demands items be pulled from the consent agenda for public discussion, according to the Westside Express.
While consent agendas are normally used by local governments to pass routine items, apparently that’s not the case in Los Banos.
According to the Westside Express, millions of dollars in city expenditures and other consequential items are placed on the Los Banos City Council consent agenda for passage with a single vote.
In addition to Llamas, former six-term mayor Michael Amabile is also running against incumbent Llanez in the mayor’s race.
A candidate named Tommy Leyva recently filed to run against Lambert in council District 1.