What does The Modesto Bee recommend in the March Primary? See our list here

Voters will soon head to polls for the California March Primary. A majority of voters in Stanislaus County have received ballots in the mail and may already have voted.

The Modesto Bee recommends:

• U.S. Congressional District 10 — Josh Harder. His work ethic, accessibility and ability to work with other parties are impressive. The Turlock freshman in the House of Representatives has earned a second term.
• State Senate District 5 — Mani Grewal. The Modesto city councilman will protect our rivers and the farm water they provide, and will stand against powerful Southern California interests coveting money meant for rail projects in our Valley.
• Stanislaus County Supervisor District 1 — Bill Zoslocki. Also a councilman in Modesto, his common-sense approach and expertise in building and transportation will serve the county well.
• Stanislaus County Supervisor District 5 — Tom Hallinan. His decades as a contract city attorney with several local cities, plus 20 years on the Yosemite Community College District Board, make him a good fit with a county board that has been governed well in recent times.
• Stanislaus Superior Court Judge Seat 2 — Jeff Mangar. His 22 years as a prosecutor and 60 jury trials have prepared him for a judgeship.
• Stanislaus Superior Court Judge Seat 5 — Jared Carrillo. His 10 years as a 911 dispatcher, five years as a public defender, 14 years as a prosecutor and two years representing abused women and children give him unmatched breadth of experience .
• Stanislaus Superior Court Judge Seat 6 — Annette Rees. She blends extensive managerial experience with delicate sympathy cultivated by many years of working with victims of sexual assault.
• Proposition 13 — Yes. Not to be confused with a landmark 1978 property tax measure with the same name, this school bond would benefit campuses looking for upgrades — particularly those in the Modesto City Schools district.

These endorsements are offered not to tell people how to vote, but to add perspective to candidate positions and ballot proposals.

The Bee Editorial Board arrives at recommendations after interviewing candidates side-by-side with their opponents, followed by deliberations among board members. They are Editor Brian Clark, Opinions Editor Garth Stapley, Research and Information Specialist Maria Figueroa and visiting editors Puja Mehta and Keir Wilkinson.

Mehta and Wilkinson have provided The Bee and readers with valuable service since July and are nearing the end of their time here. The next installment of visiting editors will help endorse candidates and measures on the all-important fall presidential ballot, whose local contests include races for city councils, school boards and irrigation districts.

All of The Bee’s candidate interviews and debates can viewed at youtube.com/user/TheModestoBee/videos. They include the headline Jan. 22 Debate at The State forum featuring all six congressional candidates. The Bee will host others leading up to the fall election; all are streamed live and recorded for later viewing.

Editorials explaining our reasons for each endorsement can be viewed at modbee.com/opinion/editorials/, or by clicking links if you’re reading online.

This story was originally published February 18, 2020 at 5:00 AM.