Councilwoman Rosalinda Vierra’s complaints about being passed over for a number of committee assignments drew a verbal lashing from Mayor Javier Lopez at the Ceres City Council’s first meeting of the year.

At the outset of each new year the mayor assigns councilmembers to represent Ceres on committees inside and outside of the city organization and joint powers authority. Vierra, who ran for mayor against Lopez in the Nov. 5 election, noticed that she received only one out of the 16 committee slots. She didn’t take it lying down, and made a post on social media last week.

Vierra said she was “taken aback” about the one appointment and that it leaves her council District 2 with “no representation on any city committees this year.”

“It is disheartening to see that several council members have been assigned to various committees while District 2 will have no voice,” Vierra told the Courier.

Ceres resident John Warren counted and noted that Mayor Lopez gave himself nine out of 16 committee slots and Councilman Daniel Martinez – who was also appointed vice mayor by Lopez on Monday – received eight out of 16. Cerina Otero, who was just installed on the council last month, received five, and James Casey received four. Vierra wondered if her singular appointment was out of political retribution.

At the outset of the meeting, Vierra’s lone appointment was to that of the Fire Advisory Committee overseeing the city’s contract with Modesto Fire Department. Also serving on that panel will be Martinez.

“I would like to be more active in my community and I would like to make sure my District 2 is being represented on the various committees,” said Vierra.

She also noted how some of the mayor’s committees meet at the same time, adding, “I’m just kind of curious why you would appoint yourself when you know you’re on StanCOG and wouldn’t be able to attend anyway.”

Vierra called for more equal distribution of assignments.

Expecting Vierra’s outcry, Mayor Lopez pulled out a prepared statement and began reading it. He said Vierra’s post on social media was “a little misleading and an attempt to create unnecessary drama rather than offering positive policies or solutions for the city of Ceres.” He went farther, accusing Vierra of “lying to the public.”

The mayor then insisted that he has always “sought to be fair and give every councilmember a chance to serve on committees.” He said he has given assignments to Otero as the newest member and “place myself back on several key committees.”

The social media post made by Vierra, he claims, “demonstrates that Rosalinda is more interested in stirring up division than contributing to the positive growth of the city of Ceres – a common practice that has been repeated throughout her time in office.”

After the meeting Vierra accused the mayor of gaslighting in an email to the Courier, saying: “Last night’s council meeting brought city politics to a disturbing level with the mayor engaging in name-calling and personal attacks. It’s clear that he still has unresolved issues and chose the opportunity to deflect from my candidacy by targeting me for holding him accountable. This does not constitute lies only accountability. 

“As a member of the council, I believe it’s crucial that we work collaboratively, leveraging our diverse experiences and mindsets to effectively govern the city. This requires a collaborative and open-minded approach, which was starkly absent from last night’s events. The mayor’s actions exhibited behaviors that were more characteristic of a singularly focused individual rather than a leader who prioritizes the community’s well-being.”

After the mayor’s remarks, the council began tweaking the list of assignments was tweaked. Seeing that the mayor wanted to appoint Otero to the Surface Water Joint Powers Authority which governs the surface water project, she suggested Casey instead. Martinez was designated the alternate. Mayor Lopez is also on that JPA.

Otero also saw that the mayor and Casey were being assigned to the Stanislaus Homeless Alliance and she recommended that Vierra be included since she’s been focused on that issue. Vierra was assigned and Casey is the alternate.

Vice Mayor Daniel Martinez struck a tone of defense for the mayor, noting how he didn’t take it personal when he was given only one committee in 2022.

Casey saw that Martinez and Otero were being picked for the West Turlock Sub-basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency JPA but wanted to continue serving on that panel. Otero said she agreed with the swap. So Casey remains and Vierra was made alternate.

Casey noted that some of the committees have conflicting meeting times. Otero gave a suggestion that next year that the list of committees accompany with meeting dates and times to avoid schedule conflicts.

Martinez and Otero were assignment to the Local Emergency Planning Committee. 

Lopez appointed himself to the City-Schools Committee along with Otero; and solely to the Executive Committee of the Central Valley Division of the League of California Cities. The mayor also will be on the StanCOG Policy Board with Councilman Daniel Martinez as the alternate. StanCOG stands for Stanislaus Council of Governments and oversees the disbursement of transportation funds to the nine cities and county.

Lopez and Martinez will represent the city of Ceres on the East Stanislaus Integrated Regional Water Management Partnership board, a group founded in 2011 to plan for regional water management.

Lopez and Martinez will serve together on the Christmas Festival Committee and the Concerts in the Park Committee.

Casey was appointed to represent the city of Ceres on the Stanislaus Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance (SEAPA). He also will serve on the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District’s Special Selection Committee.

Representing Ceres on the Modesto Airport Advisory Committee are Casey and Senior Planner Teddie Hernandez.

Otero was appointed to the Economic Development Committee who’ll serve with Economic Development Manager Julian Aguirre.