Grewal is heavily endorsed for Stanislaus board seat. Opponent DeGraef is not impressed
Mani Grewal, an appointed supervisor, is asking voters in the June primary to elect him to a full term on the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors.
Grewal was a Modesto councilman when Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed him in November 2020 to complete the term of Tom Berryhill, the former state senator who died in office as a county supervisor.
His opponent in the race, Joel DeGraef, is a different kind of candidate. He’s a self-described eccentric. And he doesn’t seek endorsements from political figures, labor groups or the media.
DeGraef said his campaign appeals to county residents who are fed up with the local government system. “I am one of the many thousands of people who are frustrated and tired,” he said. “I give a damn and I’m going to do something about it.”
The winner of the June 7 primary will represent supervisorial District 4, which includes most of Modesto, Del Rio and a small part of Ceres.
Grewal, 43, has the endorsements from county Sheriff Jeff Dirkse, the Modesto Police Officers Association, the unions for patrol and custodial deputies and other public safety groups. He is also walking neighborhoods and meeting with residents to win over voters.
Grewal, who made an unsuccessful run for the state Senate in 2020, stressed he doesn’t see the county board seat as a steppingstone. “I want to be here for the long run,” Grewal said. “I want to see things coming to fruition if I am given the privilege of a full term on the board.”
Grewal said that as a former councilman, he has seen Modesto’s financial struggles firsthand. He said the county and city have been negotiating a new tax-sharing agreement to replace a 1996 pact.
The talks, expected to wrap up soon, are aiming for a 50-50 tax revenue split, Grewal said, which would require the county to give up a historic 70% share.
In a Modesto Bee forum for candidates — DeGraef was a no-show — Grewal was asked for his opinion of the proposed downtown Modesto stadium for minor league baseball, soccer, concerts and other events. Proponents say the stadium project would create a downtown venue and also spur development of offices, retail stores and housing downtown.
Grewal said any improvements that bring vitality to the region are beneficial for the county. He said he would consider supporting public funding for the stadium but it depends on how much private funding is committed.
Grewal said the top priority of his campaign is economic expansion to produce high-salary jobs. “To have a good quality of life, your income needs to go up,” he said. “We want to make it fair and equitable so people can afford a home, have quality of life, raise a family and feel safe.”
In the county unincorporated areas, many garbage customers were shocked by sudden increases in recycling rates approved by county supervisors. The county allowed garbage haulers to raise their monthly charges, effective in January or March, to pay for recycling containers and other costs.
Grewal said the changes in service were state-mandated and the county delayed the requirements as long as possible. The county will keep making service adjustments to address customer concerns, Grewal said, such as offering smaller carts for residents that have fewer recyclables.
DeGraef, 65, is a retired Calaveras County sheriff’s deputy and small business owner. He’s proud of starting a mountain bike patrol at Lake Camanche. One of his ideas for Stanislaus County is extending the Virginia Corridor Trail and bike path north of Modesto into county territory toward Del Rio — to encourage health and fitness.
He said his campaign is supported by farmers concerned about water and urban encroachment. DeGraef said he understands the issues facing peace officers and would support them but doesn’t seek endorsements, so as not to owe favors.
DeGraef has a business restoring muscle cars and movie-themed vehicles. He’s incorporating car art with campaign signs to appeal to car enthusiasts and motorists near his home on Kiernan Avenue.
DeGraef said the county won’t make progress with homelessness until it recognizes that many of the homeless are drug-addicted. More arrests on drug violations and jail time would allow addicts to dry out and get help with breaking their addiction, he said.
County use of eminent domain
DeGraef’s home site near Kiernan Avenue and Tully Road was the subject of an eminent domain case, which culminated in September 2014 when the county board took action to seize a half-acre of his two-acre family homestead to widen Kiernan.
As the primary election approaches, the county has initiated eminent domain to acquire properties for a 3-mile section of the North County Corridor expressway from Oakdale Road to Claus Road, north of Modesto.
The county board gave approval April 5 to start the process on four properties needed for the 3-mile expressway segment, which include custom homes and a smaller house occupied by a retired couple.
DeGraef said he knows the stresses of sacrificing property for the public good and not getting what the property is worth from government entities. He said the county or state should pay the “replacement value” for property needed for right of way, which usually includes cost of rebuilding, land and improvements.
Grewal said he doesn’t take the use of eminent domain powers lightly. The county needs to consider multiple issues including the appraised home value, moving expenses and history of the property, he said.
The county has accounted for loss of revenue, value of property and other issues in relocating businesses for a public project, Grewal added.
In July 2021, DeGraef asked the county Planning Commission to shelve an application for a 300,000-square-foot industrial building, proposed at the southeast corner of Tully and Kiernan, until District 4 voters could elect a supervisor in the June primary. DeGraef said it was leapfrog development and warned that many diesel trucks, spewing pollutants, would head east on Kiernan to busy McHenry Avenue.
County supervisors approved the industrial building in August.
Candidate explains social media post
DeGraef was asked to explain a May 2020 social media post urging friends to watch the “Plandemic” documentary, which has been criticized for spreading disinformation about COVID-19 and the national public health response. The county is responsible for protecting the public’s health against COVID-19 and other contagious diseases.
DeGraef said he had COVID-19 “and it kicked my butt. ... It’s not a fabrication.” He said he stayed home to make sure he didn’t spread the virus to others. But he feels the pandemic was overblown and the mask mandates “were a joke” because masks are futile in blocking the viral particles.
Grewal has favored tougher measures to curb illegal trash dumping. He said additional use of public safety cameras could help identify dumpers and rewards could be offered for turning in violators.
“We should make sure there are fines and ways people will be reprimanded for doing this,” Grewal said.
