Modesto District 4 voters choice is youth versus experience

The race for Modesto’s Council District 4 is one of youth versus experience.

Challenger Tyler Ray, 24, is starting his career as a Realtor and making his first run for office. Incumbent Bill Zoslocki, 64, has 40 years of experience in real estate and in constructing commercial buildings and affordable housing. He is seeking his final four-year term to represent a district that includes the airport neighborhood, La Loma area and southeast Modesto.

The election is Nov. 7.

Ray said his youth will allow him to bring a different perspective to the council and gives him the flexibility to support the best solutions for problems. He said he is running because while Modesto has many wonderful qualities it is no longer the city of his youth when children could safely play outside and residents did not have to lock their doors. His campaign themes include having the city pursue economic development and increasing public safety while living within its means.

In a candidate questionnaire Ray said the primary reason he is running is “to create a better, safer, happier Modesto by actually talking and listening to my fellow citizens when it comes to decisions in policy and where to point my focus when it comes to the issues.”

Zoslocki cited improving the economy and creating jobs as his primary reason for a second term. “It is a long-term issue, and to see the full extent of developed policies and actions will probably take the next generation to complete. A successful long-term outcome is to lower unemployment through job growth, not from the unemployed stopping their search for nonexistent jobs and giving up on seeking employment or moving away.”

He also has been an advocate for public safety. Zoslocki has been a collegial but independent voice on the council. He asks questions and will go against the council majority if a proposal does not make sense to him.

A prime example is in 2014 when he was the only council member to vote against hiring Siemens Industry for a project that included replacing thousands of streetlights. Zoslocki said the cost seemed excessive. The council eventually did not hire Siemens and went with a competitor for about $2 million less than what Siemens had proposed.

This story was originally published October 20, 2017 at 3:25 PM with the headline "Modesto District 4 voters choice is youth versus experience."