cvv news l August 2024

Now that the slate of Merced County candidates has been confirmed for the November ballot, it’s time for debate season.

Next month, Merced residents will have an opportunity to hear from mayoral candidates, plus candidates in City Council Districts 3 and 5, which include the downtown region and northwest Merced respectively.

The Merced City Council Candidate Forum is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 at the Boys and Girls Club of Merced County, 615 W. 15th St. in Merced.

The forum for district races is 10 a.m. to noon, followed by lunch. The mayoral candidates forum begins at 12:30 p.m., according to an event announcement.

Three candidates are running for District 3: retired sheriff’s sergeant and planning commissioner Mike Harris, Merced SPCA president Cynthia Kelly and Sair Lara Rodriguez,  who is an educator and business owner. Bertha Perez, the incumbent council member for District 3, is not seeking another term. 

Incumbent District 5 Councilmember Sarah Boyle faces two challengers for her seat: Felipe Rojas-Flores, a public interest attorney, and Alex Carrillo, a communications and policy director.

In the mayor’s race, high school English teacher Anthony Martinez is challenging incumbent Matthew Serratto, a prosecutor for the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office. 

The event is open to the public, visit https://secure.ngpvan.com/mOHqDOIOR0uW7YU9O5vEDA2 to register.  For additional information contact lojeda@aclunc.org.

Event sponsors include ACLU of Northern California, Central Valley United for Power, Communities for a New California, Cultiva Central Valley, Faith in the Valley, Leadership Counsel for Justice & Accountability and Youth Leadership Institute.