Five candidates who will be on the Nov. 5 ballot in their quest for a seat on the Ceres City Council faced the public during a Candidates Forum held last week.

The event was sponsored by the Ceres Chamber of Commerce.

District 3 Councilman Bret Silveira and his opponent Cerina Otero, a member of the Ceres Planning Commission, were complimentary but things were a little more heated between Ceres Mayor Javier Lopez and rival Gary M. Condit, also a planning commissioner. Rosalinda Vierra, who wants to trade her District 4 council seat to be mayor, largely stayed out of the fray.

Each candidate was given time to introduce themselves and their vision for Ceres. All said public safety is a priority as well as bolstering economic development.

Otero was born and raised in the area and is raising her family in Ceres with her retired Air Force veteran husband. Since 2007 she has been employed with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department where she serves as a manager who supports Sheriff’s patrol operations, overseeing 60 employees.

“I’ve dealt with everything from policies, the budget to hiring staff to helping our patrol operations and guiding them with different ongoing legislative changes, reporting to DOJ, things like that,” said Otero.

She expressed desires for a stronger partnership between the city and residents, saying “government should work for you.”

Serving on the Measure H Committee and Planning Commission has allowed her to get to know the city staff and the way the city operates.

“I really want to improve our community’s safety and with that we have to work closely with our police department,” Otero said. “We have to make sure they have the funding that’s needed to give them the resources, give them the tools, give them the training, the wellness so they protect and serve us.”

Silveira, who is also the appointed vice mayor, was complimentary of his opponent. He explained that this is his 50th year as a Ceres resident and that he attended Ceres schools. Silveira retired in 2022 after 32 years with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, the last 16 years with the Police Activities League (PAL).

Silveira, a longtime coach and referee, said serving youth has been a priority in his life.

“Public safety has always a concern in our community,” said Silveira. “In the last three and a half years we’ve been able to bring our public safety team up to a place where they’re competitive and now we no longer really lose officers because of pay.”

He explained that the city hadn’t offered competitive salaries for officers in the past 20 to 30 years and saw many leave. Silveira said the council increased salaries of 22 percent for a majority of employees and 17 percent for everybody else.

“That’s unheard of in these times right now.”

He lauded the council’s 2021 decision to contract with Modesto Fire for service, noting that Ceres has gained 30 to 40 percent more services, including advanced life support on every shift and inspections which weren’t offered before.

Silveira noted economic development is a priority of the city and that his first vote as a planning commissioner was to approve the Ceres Gateway Center – which thrilled his daughter “because we were going to get an In-N-Out Burger.”

“Our momentum in community development and retail and commercial development is unheard of. Our housing development in the next 10 years is going to go off the charts. We may build as many as 10,000 new homes and along with that the infrastructure. It’s an exciting time to be on the City Council.”

Silveira also pointed to the recent enhancements the council ordered for Smyrna Park and the completion of Guillermo Ochoa Park.

Mayor Javier Lopez related how he has resided in the area since he was five after his parents came to the U.S. from Mexico. He attended Westport Elementary and Ceres High School.

Lopez noted how the city has invested a lot of Measure L tax monies into building sidewalks in such as areas as Morgan Road.

Lopez has been a coach at Central Valley High School for eight years and spent 20 years in fire suppression.

Councilwoman Rosalinda Vierra works fulltime at Modesto Junior College as a student success specialist. She listed off her educational degrees, including an MBA.

A Ceres resident since 2002, Vierra said she understands the struggles of families to buy an affordable home in the area and explained that public safety and economic development remain her priorities.

“It’s important that we engage businesses and industries,” she said. “We need to have jobs that have sustainable wages and benefits.”

Vierra also noted the council is having conversations about resurrecting the Ceres Police Street Crimes Unit with state grant funds.

As a member of the Stanislaus County Homeless Alliance, she said she is committed to finding ways to alleviate homelessness in Ceres.

Vierra said she remains committed to honesty and transparency and is always eager to meet with residents even on the weekends.

“I’m also happy to respond and investigate as well as engage in conversation, listen to your ideas.”

Gary Condit, grandson of the congressman by the same name, said he’s lived in Ceres most of his life, attended Ceres schools and calls Ceres home. Currently he is finishing up his bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing while being employed by the Sheriff’s Office as an analyst. He was appointed to a four-year term on the Ceres Planning Commission last year.

“Ceres faces a lot of issues and I’m running for mayor to really make change,” said Condit. “I am the candidate of change. I was not planning on running for mayor. Four months ago I didn’t think I’d be up here talking to you. But recently I think we’ve all noticed a change in our city government … if we can be honest with ourselves. One of the issues that really sparked my interest in this race was the gazebo. The current elected officials voted 4-1 to spend $540,000 on a gazebo at Whitmore Park. The average home price in the city of Ceres is $450,000.”

Later in the meeting he said he would have preferred to see the money spent on a children’s splash pad at an existing park or helped develop the unfinished Lions Park.

He accused the council of “irresponsible spending and mismanagement at City Hall.”

He cited six frozen police officer positions.

Condit said public safety is a priority, specifically on speeding and running of stop signs. He cited the barebones traffic enforcement unit.

“We have one sergeant with our traffic unit and one full-time officer. I’ve heard … that officer is being removed and going back to patrol because staffing is so low. We have two reserve officers who work Monday through Thursday, 10-hour days. So there’s no enforcement in our city. We gotta change that.”

Condit said the city needs to be more transparent with the budget and noted how the council approved the current budget on a Tuesday morning in June with little community input.

“We need elected officials to stand up to our city manager when he’s wrong.”

His remarks generated boisterous applause.

The audience had a chance to pose written questions of the candidates, filtered by Chamber of Commerce President Brandy Meyer. The first question was about openness pf changes to the leaf and limb collection program which runs Oct. 1 to Jan. 9 and solutions to large piles of organics left in the street other times of the year.

Silveira said the city is embarking on a fee-for- service program with Bertolotti for those residents willing to pay extra for appointed pick-ups outside of the regular three-month collection period.

“I think it’s going to be a great plan and it puts the onus on the people that are putting their leaves and limbs and grass in the gutter to have it picked up themselves,” said Silveira. “If it doesn’t after a certain amount of time then it’ll become a code enforcement issue and a city issue along with that will be fines placed on their utility bill.”

Lopez said the new program shows the council’s willingness to listen to the community.

Otero suggested the city should consider shifting the months of the leaf and limb in addition to funding more code enforcement officers who are currently overloaded.

Vierra said if the public wants to pay more for expanded service “I need you to tell me that,” but she added that utility bills are high enough already.

Condit supports extra fee based pick-up service for those who ask for it but also wants to see additional code enforcement, saying the city reacts too slowly to complaints.

“If elected, I want to hit a reset button with our city staff department wide,” Condit said. “They need to do their job. They work for you.”

Lopez reminded folks that the city had one code enforcement officer four years ago and now has three with a secretary and supervisor.

A question targeted Otero for her priorities for her district if elected. She stated police and traffic enforcement, fostering more public engagement through her accessibility.

Another person asked if Lopez and Vierra felt it was appropriate for the taxpayers to pay for their 2023 trip to attend the International Council of Shopping Centers conference in Las Vegas and if they still engage in out-of-state travel.

Lopez’s expenses for that trip came to $1,824.23 and Councilwoman Vierra’s came to $1690.94.

“I do agree that one should not be spending that kind of tough money,” said Lopez. He disputed claims on social media that the city paid for the rental of a red sports car after he posted a video of it on Facebook.

Vierra said going to the Las Vegas event “was the best idea at the time” but would prefer to attend the conference held closer to home in Monterey “if I do go back.” She stated that she worked long hours at the Las Vegas event to make a lot of connections in an effort to recruit new businesses in Ceres.

Lopez was asked about this upcoming town hall meeting (scheduled for last Saturday) and how many he has had. Lopez answered that it is his first.

Condit was asked if he planned to serve a full four-year term if elected and echoed a saying of his late grandfather, Rev. Adrian Condit, “Lord willing.”

“Unless the Lord takes me, I’m serving a full term and I am committed to this city. I’m not Couper Condit. I’m not Channce Condit. I’m Gary Condit. I am my own person. I have my own ideas and that’s what this election is about.”

Condit was referring to his two brothers who previously elected to the council but left early; Channce to become a county supervisor midway into his term and Couper who quit 10 months into his four-year term with no explanation.

A question about the importance of a balanced budget prompted Silveira to say “our budget is balanced. People question taking money from our reserves to balance our budget. That’s what reserves are for.”

In June the council approved a $28.7 million budget for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year by using $1.5 million in ARPA funds and tapping into reserves by $635,504 to fill a $2.13 million gap.

He said Ceres’ reserves are higher than most cities of its size. Tapping into reserves leaves a balance of about $6.1 million, which is 21.3% of expenditures, which meets the council’s established policy of maintaining at least a minimum of 18%.

Lopez reflected back to early in his term when the council was deadlocked 2-2 over the budget but eventually agreed so that employees could get paid. He said that the city was intending to use ARPA funds to balance a prior year’s budget but didn’t have to because revenues came in higher.

“A balanced budget is important and tough decisions will be made,” said Lopez.

Otero said she was disappointed that little public input was received when the council approved the last budget.

Vierra said Ceres should realize revenue with the building of more business and homes but said “it’s important that we do try to live within our means. Unfortunately that did result in a hiring freeze this year to not to increase our spending.”

Condit said the council has “bailed themselves out” with COVID money.

“We need a leader who can prioritize budget issues. I want to see a Citizen Budget Oversight Committee made up of you folks so you know where your money is going.”

He hammered on the same thing that his brother Channce did while on the council – the Community Center’s drain on the budget.

“If you look at the budget, there’s a line through the Community Center. They’re not reflecting the debt in the building we sit in right now. So to say we have a balanced budget is really not an accurate statement.”

Various answers were given to the question: “How can Ceres claim its own identity?”

Silveira said besides trying to lure better paying jobs, Ceres can attract families with its recreation offerings and special events.

“I hope my daughter and son want to raise their kids here in Ceres too and if they’re going to do it it’s because of all cool things we have to do for them, our great award winning schools and the people that live in this community that come together any time of the year.”

Condit noted Ceres has challenges with its leakage of sales tax dollars being sandwiched between the larger cities of Modesto and Turlock but said Ceres can be unique by achieving status as the safest and cleanest city in the county.

“In the past four years has Ceres gotten cleaner?” asked Condit rhetorically. “It’s gotten dirtier. Our parks, the homeless population in Ceres has increased and part of it (is) that empty Walmart building … we have to use enforcement and compassion to deal with that issue and get those folks the help they need.”

Vierra said she wants people to be proud of Ceres and mentioned great events like Christmas Tree Lane and the Ceres Street Faire that bring out community pride.

She called for more surveillance cameras and License Plate Readers to improve public safety.

Otero said Ceres can create its own identity but must to improve public safety and code enforcement.

“Those resources need to be in place, otherwise people are not going to want to move here,” Otero said. “People are not going to want their businesses here. Right there at the corner of Mitchell and Hatch every evening there’s unhoused individuals that are sitting there. I talked with that donut shop owner and they’re upset. They work hard every single day. There’s children that walk up to that donut shop or stop in Saturday morning to get donuts for their family but they have to walk over people. It’s not fair.”

Otero also called for citizens to communicate with city leaders about their thoughts.

Mayor Lopez cited three words that identify Ceres: “traditions, culture and community.”

He answered Condit’s charge that Ceres has gotten dirtier as an “ill-representation.” He cited recent economic development growth and the council investing “millions into code enforcement.”

“To say the community is dirty, that’s a disrespect,” said Lopez, who also claimed that homelessness in Ceres has dropped.

While agreeing that there is a problem at the donut shop, Lopez said “the city of Ceres has been proactive on this homeless issue and if we left it alone, if we ignored it, we probably would have more homeless in our community.”

He said participating in a ride-along with the CARES team as it reaches out to the homeless changed his “perspective on my thoughts about the homeless.”

Vierra said teams are reaching out to the homeless and offering assistance and services in mental health, drug and alcohol rehab or housing.

“We have learned that it takes approximately four visits from one of the case workers to actually engage and accept services,” said Vierra. 

She also noted that businesses can file a 404 no trespassing order that allows police to remove transients from business districts.

Vierra said it’s vital that the city plug into county resources and that she’s hoping to work with the county about creating transition housing at the former Memorial Hospital Ceres building.

Silveira said the county spent $30 million in the last 18 months and the homeless county went up.

“We’re not alone in this in Ceres,” said Silveira, who said the city is already working with regional officials.

Condit said homelessness is complicated but called for a regional task force “and everybody come together and have some buy-in.” He mentioned someone whose home backs up to the canal on Hatch Road where homeless camps existed and fires were being lit “months on end. We can’t allow that.”

Lopez answered, saying “the city of Ceres has been very proactive on the homeless issue in the last four years.”

After Condit alleged that “rumor has it” that the city has a lot of red tape for persons opening a business, Lopez fired back, “Mr. Condit, with all due respect, you heard wrong. There’s been a lot of businesses that’ve been telling me that it’s been easier to work with the city of Ceres.”

Someone asked Lopez why he recently supported giving $5,000 to South Modesto Business United out of city reserves for a Latino celebration at El Rematito Flea Market. He noted the tax dollars that come out of the market which is within the city limits.

“It was to support a culture and event that is huge for the citizens of Ceres,” said the mayor. “The city of Ceres is almost 60 percent Latino and I felt it was important that we did what we could.”

Vierra said she voted against the expenditure, saying “we should not be spending money we do not have.”

Condit said he would not have supported the event with reserve funds.

The candidates followed up with a closing statement and for the most part repeated points made before. Otero called for community support for the police department, cited all the onerous demands being placed on officers.

Silveira invited the attendees to show up at council meetings and take advantage of recreation offerings at the Ceres Community Center.

“Sometimes when there’s three people at City Council meetings we think we must be doing alright, right? But then we see social media and maybe they’re not.”

Lopez took time to say the police budget has been increased over the last two years.

He also explained that the reason he supported the gazebo project is because funding came from a grant and ARPA funds.

“The reason why I want to continue to be the mayor is for one of the biggest reasons of all – the satisfaction of helping people is far greater than anything else.”

Lopez went on to acknowledge some in the audience were dissatisfied him “give me 10 minutes, I might change your mind.”

Vierra mentioned her plans to continue fighting for police funding, noting how a council majority stopped her quest to add more license plate reader cameras at intersections in Ceres paid for by ARPA funds. She also quickly inserted that she and James Casey voted against the gazebo project.

Condit said Lopez and Vierra painted a “rosy picture of our city” but went on to say that police training was cut 43 percent, investigative services cut 46 percent, ammunition cut eight percent and protective apparel cut 18 percent.”

He claims his pro police stance is what earned him the endorsement of the Ceres Police Officers Association. “They’re frustrated – they’re not supported.”

Condit discredited the council’s boast of recent economic developments, noting that the Mitchell Ranch and Ceres Gateway commercial centers were in the planning stages and approved by prior councils.