TURLOCK -- Four seasoned campaigners and one wild card candidate debated ways to help the city's homeless and jump-start city revenue at the first forum of the election season for City Council candidates.
Three candidates, David "DJ" Fransen Jr., Amy Bublak and Mary Jackson, have waged unsuccessful campaigns for City Council and mayor, and Vice Mayor Kurt Vander Weide will seek to keep his seat on the council.
"I have a key to the city ... and no door to put it in," Bublak joked of her attempts since 1990 to get into office.
Evangelical minister Jim Sarnowsky is a new face among the candidates with an unusual résumé he touts on his Web site, www.js-ministries.com, as a way to motivate others not to follow his path: "Alcoholic for 20 years, drug addict for 15 years ... I was pronounced dead twice by Doctors and Highway Patrol ... 40 DUIs, 100 times in jail ... and a lot more."
Candidate Jeff Anderson did not attend the forum.
Vander Weide's and Councilwoman Beverly Hatcher's seats will be on the November ballot. Hatcher decided not to run for re-election.
The long-running fight over a homeless shelter was a popular topic, with candidates disagreeing on whether the city should be involved in housing the homeless during the winter.
"Government is incredibly inefficient and ineffective in caring for the homeless," Vander Weide said. "I think government should be out of it entirely."
Fransen disagreed, noting that the federal, state and county governments find the homeless issue pressing enough to distribute funding for the cause.
"I just don't know why suddenly, in the city of Turlock, it's not going to be our job," Fransen said.
Jackson touted public safety and vowed to make sure Turlock's police and fire services are well-equipped.
"Central Valley towns are quickly becoming havens for gang activity," she said.
The five candidates spoke in support of Measure S, the proposed half-cent sales tax increase to improve roads in Stanislaus County that will be on the November ballot. If the measure passes, Turlock would receive more than $48 million for local traffic improvement and road maintenance projects.
And with city revenue dollars plateauing, the candidates emphasized bringing new, diverse employers to the city's 2,600-acre industrial tract and waging a campaign to encourage residents to spend their money in Turlock.
About 50 people attended the forum sponsored by the Turlock Chamber of Commerce. Many said they appreciated the candidates' straight talk.
Bee staff writer Merrill Balassone can be reached at mbalassone@modbee.com or 578-2337.
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