Campaign donations continue to pour into the local political races for Ceres City Council during September and October and Gary M. Condit has raised the most in the mayor’s race, according to reports that candidates are required to file.
Condit has tapped into his family’s political connections to generate cash that extend far beyond Ceres. For example, his campaign reported receiving $5,500 on Sept. 30 from Steve Peace of El Cajon, a former state Assemblyman who served with Condit’s grandfather, Gary A. Condit. Peace was part of the so-called Gang of Five who stood up to then Assembly Speaker Willie Brown in the 1980s.
Condit also received $2,000 from his former congressman grandfather, who is retired and living in Cave Creek, Ariz.
Condit also reported receiving:
• $2,000 from the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council Power PAC in Sacramento;
• $1,000 from the Ian Calderon for Lt. Governor 2026 campaign committee on Oct. 7;
• $1,000 from Ceres business owner Kathleen Casey, wife of Councilman Jim Casey, on Oct. 9;
• $2,500 from Prabhjot Singh of Turlock on Oct. 15;
• $1,000 from the California Real Estate PAC on Oct. 18;
• $1,000 from Moon Star Ice Cream of Modesto.
Those amounts, totaling $8,500, join the $15,805 Condit reported receiving prior to Sept. 21 on Form 460 filed with the state Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). That places Condit’s campaign war chest at an estimated $24,305.
Condit’s opponent, incumbent Ceres Mayor Javier Lopez did not provide any updates in addition to the $11,989 reported as total contributions made between July 1 and Sept. 21.
Mayoral candidate Rosalinda Vierra reported receiving $1,000 from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 684 PAC on Oct. 1; $3,000 from the Latino PAC of Stanislaus County and $3,000 from the Community Service PAC of Modesto, both on Oct. 10; and $2,500 from the North Valley Labor Federation PAC on Oct. 20. That brings her total to $15,575.46 year-to-date as of Oct. 19.
Fundraising has been far less brisk in the District 3 Ceres City Council race. Incumbent Bret Silveira reported receiving $5,300 between July 1 and Sept. 21, for a total of $8,550 up to the last filing report. He also reported spending $13,106.82.
His opponent, Cerina Otero received $1,000 from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 684 PAC on Oct. 8. That amount is added to the $7,240 her campaign received.
