One of Carmen Sabatino’s most ardent supporters once said, without a trace of irony, “He’s right a third of the time.” At another time, a hardened journalist who had covered Sabatino and Modesto for decades said, but not for attribution, “When Carmen’s right, he’s really right.” Sabatino himself believed he was always right, and even though he wasn’t, he might have been more accurate about others than others were about […]
Carmen Sabatino
Bruce Frohman on Carmen Sabatino
When Carmen Sabatino ran for mayor in 1999, Modesto voters were disenchanted with incumbent Mayor Richard Lang and the city council. Mr. Sabatino presented a compelling case for making a change and was elected in an upset. When he assumed office, he went to work reforming city government, stopping subsidies to residential developers, and eliminating wasteful spending. He hired a new city manager and a new police chief. Traffic signals […]
Underdogs Celebrate Defeat of MID Water Sale
Only a few years ago, he was mugged and left for dead by the Powers that Bee, but Sunday night former Modesto Mayor Carmen Sabatino was back in his element as he hosted a victory celebration for the many players who somehow managed the defeat of the Modesto Irrigation District (MID) water sale to San Francisco. “We’re not spiking the football and we’re not dancing in the end zone,” […]