Merced City Councilmember Sarah Boyle, who represents District 5, is running for re-election and has one challenger, Alex Carrillo.
District 5 in Merced is south of Yosemite Avenue, bordered by G Street to the east and Bear Creek to the south. It also dips into areas near Santa Fe Drive and Ashby Road as well as near McSwain Road.
Boyle, 36, works as a social media coordinator at UC Merced. Carrillo, 33, also works at UC Merced as a communications and policy director, with the Community and Labor Center.
District 5 voters will see another name on the ballot, Felipe Rojas-Flores. He ended his campaign earlier this month.
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?
Sarah Boyle: Every day, I wake up driven by a deep commitment to making Merced a better place to live and work. My love for this city fuels my determination to advocate relentlessly for its people. I proudly speak of Merced’s progress, and while there’s still much work ahead, I’m motivated by the responsibility to serve our community.
As the incumbent, I am intimately aware of the issues and changes facing both the city of Merced and District 5. From public safety to budget management, High Speed Rail, future annexations, and ensuring that taxpayer money is spent wisely, I am the most qualified candidate to address these challenges. With nearly four years of experience on the council, I’ve consistently been a vocal advocate for the people of District 5. I’ve confronted the most pressing issues head-on, guided by my commitment to preparation and asking the tough questions.
These qualities, I believe, are essential for anyone serving in this capacity. As a familiar face and trusted voice for Merced, I have delivered results and will continue to push forward with the same dedication and passion for our city’s future.
Alex Carrillo: The City of Merced has experienced significant growth with an influx of new developments and multibillion dollar projects, yet the council has failed to address displacement concerns and ensure that these development projects meet community needs.
For example, the High Speed Rail Authority is already designing the Merced Station and purchasing local properties, yet there is no plan to address the displacement of local nonprofits serving our youth and seniors as well as residents and small businesses.
Given my professional experience working for the state of California and at the UC Merced Community and Labor Center, I want to ensure that our residents’ interests come first and that they are not forgotten in the rush to grow Merced.
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?
Alex Carrillo: The city needs to address the deficit of affordable housing options throughout Merced. We can do that by working with the university to ensure there is sufficient housing for students to reduce the pressure on off-campus housing, making them available for families in our community. We need to avoid exploitative rental practices and price gouging by adopting rent stabilization and tenant protection policies and ensuring that the city contains a sufficient number of affordable housing units to meet local needs. The city should support down-payment assistance programs to help first-time home buyers become homeowners.
Sarah Boyle: As a member of the Merced City Council, I recognize the ongoing challenge of affordable housing, and we have already taken significant steps to address it.
In the last three and a half years, we approved over 700 affordable housing units, though many are still under construction. We’ve also secured $2.5 million in CalHome funds for first-time home buyers, $13.9 million in grant funding for the Childs and B project, and a $5.8 million city match to further our housing goals. Additionally, we awarded $1.135 million for first-time home buyers and $1.375 million for owner-occupied rehab, in partnership with self-help enterprises.
However, the legacy of the 2008 recession still impacts us, as Merced’s housing market suffered greatly during that time, and we’re still catching up. High interest rates, rising insurance costs, and bureaucratic red tape complicate our efforts, though many of these issues are beyond the city’s control.
Moving forward, I will continue to prioritize affordable housing initiatives and advocate for policies that expedite construction and reduce barriers to homeownership, while ensuring we remain aggressive in pursuing state and federal funding to support Merced’s housing needs.
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?
Sarah Boyle: To address this ongoing challenge, we must continue strengthening our partnership with Merced County, which administers homeless services. Collaboration between the city and county is essential, and that’s why I advocated for this issue to be brought to the city council’s agenda, leading to a discussion back in August.
While we’ve had policies in place, the previous Supreme Court ruling limited our ability to take action. Now that the ruling has been overturned, and the executive order from Governor Newsom, we are revising our city’s policy to better address homelessness, and I fully support implementing these changes.
In addition to enforcing policies, we need to ensure that critical services are available to those experiencing homelessness, while working with the county to provide resources. However, I do believe arresting individuals and pushing them into the system is not a solution. These people need help, and we should offer support, but they must also be willing to accept the assistance.
My goal is to balance enforcement with providing pathways to rehabilitation and housing.
Alex Carrillo: For a long-term solution, the city needs to strengthen partnerships with county services to be able to connect unhoused populations to services, stable housing and job training services. The State has prioritized addressing the issue and has also mandated that cities reduce homelessness or lose funding, while incentivizing reduction of homeless populations. We need to make sure those who need the services are receiving them. This also includes housing for specific populations, like veterans and youth.
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?
Alex Carrillo: The traditional way of connecting with residents is not working. As I am talking to residents of District 5, many do not know who their current council representative is or that the city has been redistricted.
I would like the city to be more intentional in communicating and engaging with the public. The city can partner with nonprofits and individuals who serve as trusted messengers and city liaisons to connect with residents, particularly those who face barriers to civic engagement due to language and access issues.
I am committed to partnering with organizations to host “office hours” throughout the community at significant locations that are easily accessible such as our Senior Center, Lifeline, Merced Lao Family, Merced Community College and our local churches.
Sarah Boyle: I have always made it a priority to be accessible to District 5 constituents, but also all residents of Merced.
I take pride in being highly accessible, returning calls, emails, Facebook messages, and Instagram DMs to ensure I’m available to the community 24/7. Even during my 2020 campaign, I included my personal phone number on canvassing materials because I believe accessibility is crucial to this role. When I return calls, I provide my cell phone number and encourage constituents to reach me directly. I also save every contact in my phone, noting whether they are District 5 constituents or Merced residents, and document the reason for their call. This allows me to follow up when relevant issues arise. For example, I’ve reached out months later to inform residents about agenda items that may interest them, and they’ve expressed gratitude for my responsiveness and attention to detail.
I take my responsibilities as a council member very seriously and would never ignore a constituent. My goal is to always stay connected and informed so that I can best represent the people of Merced.
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?
Sarah Boyle: Economic development is my top priority for the next four years, and we must take bold steps to bring more high-paying jobs to Merced. While we have many strengths, it’s clear that we need to do more to attract higher wages.
In April, I advocated for hiring an Economic Development firm to thoroughly analyze our market and identify opportunities for growth. This firm will help us by analyzing our retail landscape, determining potential retail opportunities, and identifying key development sites. They will also focus on recruiting both retailers and developers, marketing and branding Merced as an attractive destination, and revitalizing our downtown and urban areas. Additionally, they’ll provide ongoing coaching and support to ensure that these initiatives are successful.
By taking a proactive approach and partnering with experts, we can strategically recruit businesses that offer higher wages, while ensuring our local economy continues to grow. The upcoming closure of the Save Mart warehouse highlights the urgency of this issue, and I am committed to creating more opportunities for Merced residents to thrive.
My goal is to make Merced a place where people can find not just jobs, but well-paying careers that support families and the community.
Alex Carrillo: We need a robust economic development department that will develop a high road economic plan and improve the quality of jobs we already have within the city.
The city should support the use of community benefit agreements and project labor agreements to ensure any new development is coupled with strong labor standards and local benefits to residents and workers.
The city also needs to do a better job as a significant employer itself by hiring experienced staff, retaining current staff and building capacity that allows for upward mobility for city staff.
The City Council needs to review its contracting policies to ensure that we do not contract out work unnecessarily and that we do not work with contractors who cut corners, exploit workers, and short change public dollars.
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?
Alex Carrillo: Council members take an oath to uphold the Constitution. This includes the First Amendment – the freedom of speech and the freedom to peacefully assemble. However, we need to understand that these freedoms are not absolute and must be balanced with the need to conduct city business and ensure that all residents have the ability to be heard.
I will encourage the City Council to schedule sufficient time to hear from all residents who may wish to speak about controversial issues, even if it requires some rearranging of the agenda. Most importantly, the City Council chambers must be safe and accessible to everyone.
Sarah Boyle: Protest is a fundamental part of democracy, and in a university town like Merced, where diverse viewpoints are common, it’s important to create space for different voices to be heard. City Council meetings should be a platform for open dialogue, and I respect the right to protest, as long as it’s peaceful and doesn’t disrupt the council’s ability to conduct city business.
My approach, when protests occur in council chambers, would be to listen and understand the concerns being raised, ensuring that protesters feel heard and respected. At the same time, we must maintain order to ensure the meeting can proceed effectively for all participants. I would work with my fellow council members and law enforcement to manage any disruptions in a way that prioritizes safety and keeps the conversation productive.
Creating opportunities for public comment and discussion during meetings is essential, as it allows people to express their opinions without resorting to protest. Ultimately, I believe in balancing free expression with the responsibility to maintain a respectful and constructive environment so that we can continue addressing the important issues that impact Merced.