Leaders have wide margins in all three Ceres City Council races
The leaders in all three Ceres City Council races had wide margins over their opponents in early election returns Tuesday night.
In District 1, incumbent Jim Casey had the biggest lead in all the race,s with 75.32%. His opponent, Todd Underwood, had 24.68%.
“If that margin holds and I end up winning, I hope that I make the people in District 1 proud,” Casey said Tuesday night.
Casey has held the position since August 2021 following a special election to fill the vacancy left by Channce Condit, who joined the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors.
Casey has said filling vacant businesses and balancing the budget are among his top priorities.
Underwood, who describes himself as a “blue collar, working-class guy in telecommunications,” said affordable housing is his top priority.
He said Tuesday night, “No matter who wins, District 1 will be all right. (Casey) seems like a good man.”
In District 4, Ceres Planning Commissioner Daniel Martinez has a 61.25% vote over opponents John R. Osgood III and David Carreon, who had 21.34% and 17.42%, respectively.
Osgood was briefly appointed to the seat last year before the council rescinded it following revelations of divisive comments he made on his podcast, including repeatedly using the N-word.
Osgood, a truck driver and vice president of a company that recycles food-grade waste, has not responded to repeated requests for comment.
Martinez, a Ceres Planning Commission, said, “I am very humbled by the support I have received from the voters so far. I am going to stay optimistic until the election has been certified by our clerk.”
If elected, Martinez said he will work to find new revenue streams for the city, especially by filling vacant downtown businesses. He also wants to work to improve homelessness and said he will continue to vote, as he has on the planning commission, to approve projects for more housing and apartment complexes.
Carreon, an entrepreneur who works in produce distribution, told The Bee previously that his top priorities are improving infrastructure and making Ceres a more attractive place for businesses.
“The early results don’t look too good for me but confirms my suspicion that money buys results in modern elections, down to the most local of positions,” Carreon said in an email Wednesday morning.
Martinez received about $3,700 in contributions including from various business owners, the Modesto Fire Union and a building association, according to financial statements.
Carreon did not receive any contributions to his campaign.
The District 4 seat is currently occupied by Mike Kline, a longtime former councilman who was asked by city staff to fill in for the remainder of the term after Osgood’s appointment was rescinded. He did not run for reelection.
In District 2, a seat left vacant by Linda Ryno’s resignation in April, candidate Rosalinda Vierra has 71.29% of the vote, compared to candidate Paula Redfern, who has 28.71%
“I am humbled by the support of the early voters in our City Council district so far and I remain cautiously optimistic,” Vierra said Tuesday night.
Vierra, a student success specialist and small-business owner, said housing, bringing stable, nonservice jobs to the city and public safety are among her top priorities.
Redfern, a code enforcement officer in Modesto, was not available for comment.
This story was originally published November 8, 2022 at 10:03 PM.
