Modesto Mayor Ted Brandvold: stubborn, tone deaf, and consistently wrong
Modesto Mayor Ted Brandvold always has been a weak leader. But his performance has been especially hard to watch the past three months.
First came the April letter from seven mayors in Stanislaus County, led by Brandvold, to Gov. Gavin Newsom demanding an aggressive and immediate reopening of our economy. The tone of the foolhardy letter was clear: We’re not like San Francisco or Southern California. We’re special and we deserve special treatment.
Twelve weeks later, Brandvold and his buddies could hardly look worse. Stanislaus has more COVID-19 cases (5,631 on Wednesday) than San Francisco (4,659) despite having far fewer residents (549,815 compared to 870,044). Contra Costa County has more than twice our population at 1.1 million people, but fewer COVID cases (5,110).
Brandvold found a way to look even more foolish in May with his stubborn defense of toxic Ted Howze, the congressional candidate from Turlock or Stockton or both whose racist use of social media scared away Republican backers with better sense. Like national GOP leaders, and state party leaders, Stanislaus Supervisor Terry Withrow, Patterson Mayor Deborah Novelli and Hughson Mayor Jeramy Young.
All of these Republican groups and leaders — the very people whose support Howze desperately needs to win — have disavowed him, but Brandvold refuses. Does the Modesto mayor know something everyone else doesn’t? Or is Brandvold just that stubborn, unable to own a mistake?
His stubbornness came on full display in June, when Brandvold demanded during budget deliberations that Modesto maintain police positions at all costs. Most other council members listened to reason, acknowledging that COVID-19 has left the city’s finances in tatters and agreeing to erase 30 police vacancies — not even real employees, just positions on paper. His own city manager and police chief tried to talk some sense into the mayor, but their words fell on deaf ears.
Effective leaders listen to reason. They learn how to adapt when the ground shifts. They encourage and inspire. They know how to read a room. They build trust and consensus among those they serve and those elected to serve with them.
Brandvold knows none of that.
He should realize that he’s part of a team of seven policy makers with access to a professional staff. Instead, he acts like a free agent. His aloof, go-it-alone approach blindsides others and engenders little loyalty.
Brandvold spent the past few weeks in a frantic effort to push a November ballot measure that could have drastically affected Modesto growth for 20 years. The stakes were huge: an urban limit around Modesto, and snatching 1,100 acres from Wood Colony. Pulling that off would please some of Brandvold’s supporters while handing him a rare political victory. But it also would have tied the hands of future leaders who surely will have better ideas for Modesto’s destiny.
It was a long shot that might have succeeded under a leader with exceptional team-building skills. Brandvold doesn’t come close to that description. The effort fizzled when he saw that it would go down in flames, fanned by the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, previously among his most important supporters.
Brandvold even failed to persuade Councilwoman Kristi Ah You, one of his closest and most reliable allies, to join his side on this one. She made her defection complete by confirming Tuesday that she will run against Brandvold, bringing to six the number of his challengers.
Name one good thing Brandvold has done for Modesto this year. Go ahead.
Heck, name something positive he’s accomplished in his four years-plus leading our city. Now compare that list with his blunders the past 12 weeks, when he was wrong on COVID, wrong on Howze, wrong on the budget, and wrong on the urban limit line and Wood Colony.
If you feel starved for quality entertainment in these days of coronavirus, at least you can count on The Tuesday Show, as late Modesto Mayor Carmen Sabatino used to call weekly council meetings. Whether they’re viewed as tragedy or comic relief depends on your point of view.
This much is sure: they lack real leadership.
This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 9:25 AM.
