Former Modesto Mayor Sabatino plans to enter District 3 race

Former Mayor Carmen Sabatino pulled papers Wednesday to run for the District 3 City Council seat, which represents the college area of Modesto.

Sabatino would have to beat Councilman Dave Lopez and marketing firm owner Todd Aaronson in the November election to return to the City Council.

Sabatino was mayor from 1999 to 2003. He failed to win re-election in 2003 and fell short in campaigns for Stanislaus County supervisor in 2006 and last year.

He said controversy over the city's Neighborhood Stabilization Program, budget troubles and use-of-force issues at the Police Department are signs the city needs new leadership.

"The city is in a bigger mess than it was in 1999 when I was elected mayor," Sabatino said.

With the filing period for the November election drawing to a close Friday, another potential candidate emerged in the form of Joshua Esteves. On Wednesday, he pulled papers for the District 5 race but could not be reached by The Bee.

If Esteves files by Friday's deadline, he will compete with appointed incumbent Stephanie Burnside and Jenevieve Kenoyer for a two-year term.

In other races, six people are vying to replace Mayor Jim Ridenour, who is terming out this year. Another potential candidate, Juan Telles, took out papers early this month but said this week he won't run.

The mayoral field includes Councilmen Brad Hawn and Garrad Marsh; builder Bill Zoslocki; Ken Zanolini, a credit director for an insulation firm; bail bonds collections manager Robert Stanford; and Armando Arreola.

The seats for council Districts 1, 3 and 6 are on the ballot for the first time since Modesto went to district elections in 2009.

In District 6, covering northeast Modesto, the race is between Dave Cogdill Jr., a real estate appraiser, and Douglas Dryssen, president of the Associated Students of Modesto Junior College.

Philip Moyer, a retired concert promoter, is running against substitute teacher John Gunderson in District 1 in northwest Modesto.

According to disclosure records, Marsh has raised the most campaign funding. His campaign amassed $81,600 in the first six months of this year, including $71,602 in monetary contributions and $9,998 in nonmonetary support.

As of June 30, Marsh had surpassed Hawn's campaign fund of $59,413. Zoslocki had received $2,228 in checks and loaned his campaign $16,830 to create a war chest of $19,058. The other three candidates reported no contributions.

Marsh's support included a $4,000 in-kind contribution from Matt Bruno of Turlock Dairy & Refrigeration, who held a campaign reception, and a $3,318 campaign kick-off party at McHenry Bowl, which is owned by Marsh.

Former Modesto Councilwoman Kenni Friedman held a $1,511 reception for Marsh and gave $1,610 to his campaign.

Marsh also received $1,000 donations from farm equipment manufacturer Earl Anderson of Jackrabbit Inc. as well as Modesto Junk Co., Bertolotti Disposal, Delta Sierra Beverage, restaurant owner John Mangelos and Aruna Chopra of Chopra Development.

Hawn's largest contribution was $14,000 from the family foundation of Stephen Endsley, a surgeon and real estate investor. Other donations included $3,650 in donations and in-kind contributions from insurance agent J. David Wright, $2,900 from Chopra Development Enterprises, $1,500 from attorney George Petrulakis and $1,350 from Curtis Grant and $1,000 each from Prime Shine Express Car Wash,

Duarte Nursery, Rocha Transportation, Newman-Romano LLC and Christopher Tyler, district director for state Sen. Anthony Cannella.