Merced City Council race: See where District 1 candidates stand on key issues

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The southeast portion of Merced that makes up City Council District 1 will have new representation next year.

Incumbent Councilmember Jesse Ornelas chose to forego re-election.

Two candidates are competing to replace him: Darin DuPont, 28, a civil attorney, and Walter Smith, 68, who currently serves on the Merced Planning Commission.

District 1 runs east of Highway 99 to Yosemite Parkway and Highway 140, and includes a pocket of downtown and another area south of Childs Avenue.

The Merced FOCUS sent all of the candidates a questionnaire to help voters make informed decisions about who they choose on Nov. 5. Here are the questions and the candidates’ responses.

What motivated you to run?

Darin DuPont: I am running for city council because Merced has the opportunity to continue to grow in both quality and quantity, and I have the ability to advocate for a community that has been overlooked for quite some time. 

District 1 is one of the most important districts to the future of Merced, and that is a future that I and my family will experience. Our community in District 1 has aging streets and sidewalks that need to be improved, and they have requested more investment in them, from economic development to job opportunities. 

My experience from Washington, D.C. to Sacramento to Merced has provided me the ability to advocate for my community but also connect the resources and opportunities that District 1 is striving to have.

Walter Smith: I am running for city council because I believe in the potential of our community, and I am committed to ensuring that all residents have the opportunity to thrive. The most pressing issues facing our district and the city include affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, and economic development. Our community needs strong leadership to address these challenges and create a more equitable and prosperous future for everyone.

Finding housing that’s affordable is a constant challenge for Merced residents. A report by USA Today recently ranked Merced as one of the most unaffordable small metro areas in the nation. Taking that into consideration, as a member of the City Council, what would you do to improve the situation? 

Darin DuPont: The city currently has put a lot of emphasis on affordable housing. There is a good amount of affordable housing projects that will be coming to the city of Merced in the near future. I want the city to be flexible on where affordable housing projects can be planned and then brought to the city council. We need to promote all housing, from single family to multi-family, because in the long run all types of housing helps with the affordability of housing in Merced.

Walter Smith: To address the issue of housing affordability in Merced, the city council could implement several strategies: 

1. Incentivizing affordable housing development: Encourage developers to build affordable housing units by offering tax incentives, reduced fees, or expedited permitting processes. 
2. Inclusionary zoning policies: Require new residential developments to set aside a portion of units for low- and moderate-income families. 
3. Utilizing state and federal funds: Apply for grants and funding from state and federal programs designed to promote affordable housing development and homeownership assistance. 
4. Public-private partnerships: Collaborate with nonprofit organizations and private developers to build affordable housing units and mixed-income neighborhoods. 
5. Rent control and tenant protections: Introduce or strengthen rent control measures and tenant protections to prevent price gouging and displacement. 
6. Land use reform: Consider rezoning areas to increase density, allowing for more multi-family homes or smaller, affordable units, such as duplexes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
7. Adaptive reuse of vacant buildings: Convert vacant or underutilized commercial spaces into affordable housing units. 
8. Increase funding for housing assistance programs: Provide more robust housing subsidies and down payment assistance programs for low- and middle-income residents. 

A combination of these efforts could help mitigate the housing crisis and provide more affordable options for Merced residents.

Homelessness went down by more than 13% in Merced this year. Yet as anyone who lives in Merced knows, the problem is far from over. As a council member, what solutions would you propose? What specifically should be done that hasn’t been done already?

Darin DuPont: This is not a one-stop solution. This takes working with county, state, and federal partners to ensure the proper services are being provided to those that are unhoused. The issue involves not only a shortage of housing but also mental and physical health, so ensuring communication and direction of resources available is important.

Walter Smith: A combination of these efforts could help mitigate the housing crisis and provide more affordable options for Merced.

Some residents have expressed concerns certain City Council members are not accessible. There have been complaints that voicemails go unreturned and constituent concerns are ignored. In terms of interacting with constituents, how would you approach this job? What would you do to ensure you’re accessible to the public?

Darin DuPont: During the campaign I have been providing my own personal cell phone number. Additionally, I want to provide opportunities for community members to come discuss issues with me in district town halls and office hours, which I plan on holding if elected to office.

Walter Smith: To approach this job effectively, I would prioritize open and responsive communication with constituents. 

I would implement a few strategies to ensure accessibility: 

1. Timely responses: I would set clear guidelines to respond to all voicemails and emails within a certain timeframe, such as 24-48 hours. Even if I don’t have an immediate solution, acknowledging the concern shows that it has been received and is being worked on. 
2. Dedicated office hours: Establish weekly or bi-weekly office hours where residents can schedule time to speak with me, whether in person, over the phone, or virtually. This ensures a consistent opportunity for direct communication. 
3. Community engagement events: I would regularly host town halls or community forums to listen to concerns and answer questions. This helps build trust and transparency. 
4. Multiple channels of communication: In addition to phone and email, I would explore other platforms such as social media, newsletters, or text message updates. This diversifies communication channels and makes it easier for people to reach me in ways that are convenient for them. 
5. Constituent case management system: Implement a system for tracking constituent concerns to ensure that no issue falls through the cracks, and follow up on unresolved matters. By establishing these practices, I would ensure that I am accessible and responsive to the community’s needs.

Merced lacks high paying jobs. The average median household income here hovers around $66,000 – nearly $30,000 below the state average. Plus, with the upcoming closure of the Save Mart warehouse, the need for more jobs is even more evident. What specific proposals do you have to bring higher paying jobs to the region?

Darin DuPont: UC Merced Extension and Merced College are community partners that we need to continue to work with to fill employment gaps in the community. They both provide opportunities, in career and technical certificates, to bridge the gaps of employment in a variety of industries. Sometimes the barrier to employment is opportunity and experience. Working with these organizations to help our citizens receive such experience is vital to be competitive in the employment process. Further, we need to work with local business owners and possible future investors to expand the types of jobs we have in the city.

Walter Smith: To address the need for higher-paying jobs in Merced, several targeted proposals can be considered: 

1. Investing in technology and innovation hubs: Attract tech companies and startups by creating an innovation district near UC Merced. Provide incentives like tax breaks, streamlined regulations, and access to local talent, particularly from the university. Tech industries often offer high salaries and have the potential to spur further economic growth in the region. 
2. Workforce development and training programs: Partner with local educational institutions to offer specialized training programs in high-demand fields such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, renewable energy, and information technology. By aligning the workforce with the needs of growing industries, Merced can attract employers looking for skilled labor. 
3. Expanding infrastructure and logistics: Given the closure of the Save Mart warehouse, repurpose logistics infrastructure by inviting companies in the e-commerce, distribution, or green energy sectors to establish hubs in Merced. Improved transportation infrastructure, such as highways and rail connections, could make the region more attractive to logistics and manufacturing companies. 
4. Developing agricultural technology (AgTech): Leverage Merced’s agricultural roots to attract AgTech companies. Innovations in sustainable farming, water management, and automation could create high-paying jobs in this sector. Merced could position itself as a leader in agricultural technology and research. 
5. Attracting remote work hubs: With the rise of remote work, Merced could develop coworking spaces and remote work hubs, offering affordable housing and a lower cost of living to attract remote employees from companies based in more expensive regions. 
6. Public-private partnerships: Encourage collaborations between local government, private businesses, and nonprofits to develop industrial parks, incubators, or business accelerators that cater to high-paying industries. By focusing on a combination of education, infrastructure, and innovation, Merced can position itself as an attractive location for industries that offer well-paying jobs and long-term growth.

While it’s not uncommon to see protests at City Council meetings, typically they are related to local issues. On occasion, however, protesters have asked City Council members to weigh in on national and international issues – including conflicts happening abroad. 

Is there a place for protest at City Council meetings – particularly in a university town that invites a wide range of viewpoints? As a council member, what would be your approach when protests erupt in council chambers?

Darin DuPont: There is an opportunity for the public to provide comments for items on the council agenda and not. However, the Brown Act has specific rules on conduct in the council meetings, Government Code sections 54957.9 and 54957.95.

Walter Smith: By raising a thoughtful question about the role of protest in city council meetings, especially when the issues extend beyond local concerns to national or international topics. In the context of a university town, which tends to attract a diverse range of views, this becomes even more significant. It asks whether such forums should accommodate protests on broader issues, or if city council meetings should focus strictly on local matters. 

As a council member, one possible approach would be to allow for public comment on any topic while setting clear guidelines for decorum and time limits to ensure meetings remain productive. Another option could involve creating separate town hall events to address national and international issues, while keeping city council meetings focused on local governance.

Balancing the need for civic engagement with the practical functioning of the council is key.