Stanislaus County Supervisor DeMartini wins fourth term

Stanislaus County Supervisor Jim DeMartini decisively turned back two challengers in the race for the Board of Supervisors seat in District 5.

With all precincts counted, DeMartini was ahead with 53 percent to 30 percent for Patterson Mayor Luis Molina and 17 percent for retired county employee Eileen Wyatt Stokman of Ceres.

Since DeMartini won more than half of the votes, he will not face a November runoff election. Since 2005, he has represented the sprawling district that includes Ceres, part of south Modesto, Patterson and Newman.

“I feel good about it,” DeMartini said. “People are pretty well satisfied with the county. There were no issues for my opponents to run on.”

DeMartini had endorsements from the mayors of Ceres and Newman as well as other elected officials.

DeMartini has pushed for pension reforms in the Stanislaus County Employees’ Retirement System, favors a countywide transportation tax and supports a job-creation plan for the former Crows Landing Navy airfield.

Despite a sometimes blunt manner at county meetings, DeMartini campaigned without taking stabs at his challengers, and Molina and Stokman mostly refrained from attacks on the three-term incumbent.

Stokman called for a change in leadership, and in a statement said she was prepared to endorse Molina in a runoff with DeMartini. “Running for office was a worthwhile experience,” Stokman said. “It presented the chance to shed light on critical issues within county government.”

The retired social services employee said the board has neglected the county workforce, causing the county to lose jail deputies and veteran social workers to other agencies. Stockman was endorsed by the Stanislaus County Deputy Sheriff’s Association. She called for investments in staff development and restoration of social service positions.

Molina, a prevention and early intervention coordinator for county Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, said he was running to address disparities in health, mental health, education and economic opportunity. He previously served as a trustee on the county Board of Education and chairman of the Stanislaus Council of Governments.

Patterson’s mayor said he would quit his county job if elected to the Board of Supervisors.

Two other supervisorial seats on the ballot are not contested. Incumbent Vito Chiesa is unopposed for a third term representing the Turlock and Hughson area. In the county district including Riverbank and Oakdale, state Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen is the only candidate to succeed three-term Supervisor Bill O’Brien, who did not seek re-election.

Olsen is terming out of the Assembly.

This story was originally published June 7, 2016 at 9:01 PM with the headline "Stanislaus County Supervisor DeMartini wins fourth term."