Quiet campaign in Riverbank council race

After nearly a decade of turmoil, the City Council has had a quiet year with little controversy. Even the current election campaigns are respectfully polite, as three candidates vie for two council seats.

Incumbent council members Leanne Jones Cruz and Cal Campbell are being challenged by Larry King. All of them have been on Riverbank ballots before, and none are proposing radical changes.

Campbell, a retired educator, won his seat 17 months ago in a special election. Jones Cruz, a special-education teacher, was appointed to her seat 12 months ago.

They’re endorsing each other, but they’re not publicly saying anything negative about their opponent. And King hardly has a critical word to say about them.

“They’re both good people, but I think I can do a better job,” said King, who owns a Modesto company that provides hearing instruments and eyeglasses. “I’ve got a plan.”

King wants to spark civic engagement by having quarterly town hall meetings so community members can openly express their ideas. Residents currently are limited to five minutes when bringing concerns to the council, he said, and council members aren’t allowed to respond to issues not on the formal agenda.

King contends the town hall format could foster better communication with the public. He also wants to help Riverbank reduce crime by setting up Neighborhood Watch programs and ridding the city of graffiti.

The challenger’s biggest gripe about the current council is that virtually every action it takes passes unanimously. King questioned the wisdom of electing “five separate people who all agree.”

Jones Cruz said she doesn’t think that’s true. While she recalled a split vote regarding a feral cat issue, she couldn’t readily cite any other non-unanimous action. But she doesn’t consider that a problem.

“I’m really proud to be part of a council that is fully functional,” Jones Cruz said.

That hasn’t always been the case in Riverbank. The City Council was in a nearly constant state of flux for most of the past decade, as assorted political controversies and questionable spending grabbed headlines.

That included costly decisions to dismiss Riverbank’s longtime city manager and an aborted attempt to oust former council member Jesse James White, who had several well-publicized run-ins with law enforcement.

Numerous council members resigned for various reasons, including Alan Trawick in March 2005, Mayor Chris Crifasi in January 2009, Mayor David I. White in May 2009, Danny Fielder in July 2010 and Dotty Nygard in September 2013.

Jones Cruz was appointed to replace Nygard.

Campbell, who also is seeking re-election, got into office last year to fill the council opening created when Richard O’Brien took over as mayor. O’Brien had unseated former Mayor Virginia Madueño in a razor-thin 2012 election.

O’Brien had two years left on his council term, but the remaining council members could not agree on who should fill his seat. That forced the city to stage a costly special election, which Campbell won.

“Our council has stabilized, and we’re working together toward making progress for the good of the community,” Campbell said. “The community is pleased with the progress we’re making.”

All three candidates on the Nov. 4 ballot stress their connections to Riverbank and their long commitments to the community.

“I know a lot about our area and problems we face,” Campbell assured. He said he will focus his council efforts on “maintaining financial stability and keeping a budget that’s practical, reasonable and sound.”

Jones Cruz said her family has lived in Riverbank for four generations.

“We have a 1930s Dust Bowl kind of story,” she said. “I am looking out for Riverbank. People know they can call me. I have their best interest at heart.”

She particularly wants to help businesses in the city: “Downtown really needs looking after and some attention.”

This story was originally published October 23, 2014 at 2:44 PM with the headline "Quiet campaign in Riverbank council race."