Welcome to Political FOCUS, a column related to the upcoming June 2 primary election and the politics beat in the Merced County region. Subcribe to our free email newsletter.
Join us for our Voting Matters event!
Do you have questions about the election? Where do the governor candidates stand on the issues? What does the insurance commissioner do? What local offices are on the ballot?
Please join The Merced FOCUS on May 26 in welcoming the nonprofit statewide publication CalMatters as they breakdown, analyze, and answer your burning questions about this year’s primary election, in a conversation centered around the latest edition of their Voter Guide.
Merced County Registrar of Voters Melvin Levey will also be on hand to share key info about voting in Merced.
The event will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26 at The Partisan, 432 W Main St. in downtown Merced.
Sriracha, campaign style
With the June 2 primary election approaching, it’s starting to get a little spicy on the campaign trail – no mayo included.
One of the races that’s heating up is for the 27th Assembly District, which includes much of Merced County, plus parts of Madera and Fresno counties.
The candidates include former Merced Mayor Mike Murphy, a Republican, and two Democrats – Fresno County Supervisor Brian Pacheco and Livingston City Councilmember Japjeet Singh Uppal.
While Pacheco may be appearing around town more often, he hasn’t been here for debates. Pacheco was a no-show for an in-person 27th Assembly District debate hosted by the student organization Middle Ground at UC Merced on May 8.
Pacheco also was absent for a virtual debate hosted April 29 by The Merced FOCUS.
Pacheco being MIA on the debate stage has been questioned by both Uppal and Murphy in recent weeks.
“The issues are too important to not be talking about them,” Murphy said to the crowd at the UC Merced debate, when asked what he thought about Pacheco’s absence. ”No one gets a free pass.”
However, the Fresno supervisor did finally appear with his opponents for the first time Wednesday evening, for a candidates forum hosted by the Merced County Farm Bureau.
During the forum, each candidate is allowed time to highlight their platform and respond to questions. Uppal, during his introduction, didn’t overlook Pacheco’s presence in the room.
“You know it’s interesting, this is actually the first time that the three of us have shared this kind of space together, because leading up to today, the Democratic establishment’s hand-picked candidate has not had enough respect for the voters to show up,” Uppal told the group.
Pacheco didn’t respond, choosing to focus on his record as a farmer and many years served in public office.
He also didn’t respond directly to a text from The Merced FOCUS, asking to elaborate on why he missed two debates.
The FOCUS did get a call from Haley Townes, the press contact for Pacheco’s campaign. Townes said Pacheco’s focus over the past weeks has been attending events, plus meeting with various groups and people around Merced County and District 27.
You can watch the entire Merced County Farm Bureau Forum at their Facebook page.
Senate 14 highlights
Wednesday’s forum was also the first time rival candidates for the state Senate 14th District have made an appearance on the same stage.
Democrat Esmeralda Soria, who is about to wrap up her 27th Assembly District term, appeared via video livestream. Her opponent, Republican Darin DuPont, attended in person. Democrat Esmeralda Hurtado, a Sanger councilmember, wasn’t at the forum.
Although DuPont and Soria never mentioned one another by name, the forum did offer some insight as to how they might compete, should they face off in the November general election.
Soria, who chairs the Assembly’s Ag Committee, touted her support from groups like the California Farm Bureau. “I don’t take these endorsements lightly, because it really reflects years of my work in building relationships, showing up, listening, fighting and delivering for Valley agriculture,” Soria said.
“I am the only candidate with over 100 endorsements. I raised $1.5 million. I’m serious about this race, I deliver, and I want to continue to deliver for the Valley because every single person should have the ability to not just be surviving, but actually thriving.”
DuPont, a millennial and civil attorney who was born and raised in Merced County, highlighted the affordability crisis in California, saying Sacramento has largely turned its back on his generation.
“To me, this race is not about the money. It’s not about the status. It’s about the generation that has been left behind by California – my generation,” DuPont said.
“The generation that I am in and the next generation needs leaders to stand up and not get money from special interests, not talk about the endorsements that you may get. It’s actually talking about real policies that bring money back to the pockets of people. California has failed to do that.”
Wednesday’s forum also included candidates for Merced County Superintendent of Schools, Senate District 4, and Merced County Supervisor Districts 3 and 5.
Congressman Adam Gray appeared on video streaming at Wednesday’s forum in his quest to serve another term in the 13th Congressional District.
Daniel Garibay Rodriguez, a Democrat running for Gray’s seat, appeared in person. Both Republican candidates – former Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln and Lathrop tech CEO Vin Kruttiventi – were absent from the forum.
Boyenga secures key endorsement
While it’s debatable how much endorsements actually matter in a race, this week one candidate in the four-way race for Merced County Superintendent of Schools scored a big one.
Ana Boyenga has been given the stamp of approval by incumbent Steve Tietjen, who is retiring.
Boyenga currently works as assistant superintendent of educational services for Atwater Elementary School District.
In his endorsement message, Tietjen said Boyenga’s leadership experience with “the fourth largest district in Merced County, with the most honors from the state in Merced County, make her the ideal educational leader for our schools.”
Even with Tietjen’s endorsement, Boyenga faces tough competition – Paula Heupel, superintendent of El Nido Elementary School District; Richard Lopez, superintendent of Merced River School District in Winton; and Alberto Velarde, a retired principal and school administrator.
For more information about where the Superintendent of Schools candidates stand on the issues, read reporter Rachel Livinal’s coverage of a recent forum hosted by the Merced County School Board Association.
Plus, the League of Women Voters of Merced County also recently hosted a Superintendent of Schools debate on their Facebook page.