• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Valley Citizen

Pursuing truth toward justice

The Valley Citizen

Pursuing truth toward justice
  • Arts
  • Education
  • Environment
  • History
  • Nature
  • Politics
  • Wit
  • About

Three for Modesto City Council

October 27, 2013 By Eric Caine Leave a Comment

Jenny Kenoyer
Jenny Kenoyer

The two highest profile candidates in races for seats on the Modesto City Council are Stephanie Burnside and Bill Zoslocki. While both have extensive political histories, Zoslocki’s hasn’t been explored publicly, mostly because the Modesto Bee would prefer voters forget his role in Village I.

District 4

Bill Zoslocki’s role in Village I is well-documented here. We’ve also written about it here. During his 2012 campaign for mayor, he opposed urban limits of any kind. He’s also refused to take a stand on Measure X, this year’s most crucial voting issue.

Voters concerned about protecting farmland and improving public safety should realize Zoslocki believes growth is Modesto’s best option. Like countless others before him, his mantra is, “jobs, jobs, jobs.” History shows that slogan has meant, “houses, houses, houses.”

The strongest alternative to Zoslocki is retired educator Rickey McGill. While McGill does not have Zoslocki’s knowledge of planning and growth issues, he’s committed to public safety and education. And knowledge of planning and growth issues, in Zoslocki’s case, will be used to encourage another growth binge. Vote McGill.

District 5

Incumbent Stephanie Burnside is challenged once again by Jenny Kenoyer. Like Zoslocki, Burnside has refused to state her position on Measure X, the public safety measure. Like Zoslocki, Burnside can be counted to follow the Modesto Chamber of Commerce’s lead in virtually every case, including attempts to stimulate another growth boom.

Kenoyer has publicly supported Measure X, has acquired extensive knowledge of local issues by attending countless meetings, and will represent a far broader constituency than Burnside. Vote Kenoyer.

District 2

Unfortunately for Valley citizens, Councilmember Dave Geer has decided against another run for office. Geer has been an ideal councilmember in many ways, but especially in his willingness to study issues and listen closely to a wide range of viewpoints. He’s been an advocate of farmland preservation and took a strong public stand against the proposed sale of Modesto Irrigation District water to San Francisco.

There are three strong contenders for Geer’s seat. Though Jon Rodriquez and Juan Telles are fine candidates, both are far less experienced than Tony Madrigal. Many citizens are concerned about Madrigal’s history of brushes with the law, most of them involving driving without a license.

Years ago, when Stanislaus County Supervisor Dick Monteith had just entered politics, much was made of Monteith’s past, which included problems more severe than those of Madrigal. Monteith has since had a clean record. People can and do change for the better.

Madrigal has been willing to admit his problems, a positive sign. His political experience and his support for public safety and education make him the best choice to succeed Geer. Vote Madrigal.

Vote for Transparency in Government

Modesto politics has almost always been characterized by hidden agendas. Valley citizens should realize that when candidates refuse to take positions on the biggest issues of the day, they are favoring stealth government like that of former Mayor Jim Ridenour.

It’s only now that malfeasance during Ridenour’s administration is coming to light. In refusing to take a public stand on Measure X, Bill Zoslocki and Stephanie Burnside have shown contempt for transparency in government. That’s just one of several reasons neither should be elected.

Filed Under: Featured, Politics Tagged With: Bill Zoslocki city council, Jenny Kenoyer city council, Modesto City Council 2013, Modesto City Council race, Tony Madrigal Modesto

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Note: Some comments may be held for moderation.

Primary Sidebar

Off The Wire

California faces catastrophic flood dangers ? and a need to invest billions in protection
California faces catastrophic flood dangers and a need to invest billions in protection
A new state plan for the Central Valley calls for spending as much as $30 billion over 30 years to prepare for the dangers.
www.latimes.com
Oakland will get millions for the ?inhumane? crisis at one huge homeless encampment. Officials say it?s not enough
Oakland will get millions for the “inhumane” crisis at one huge homeless encampment. Officials say it’s not enough
Gavin Newsom’s administration has awarded Oakland a $4.7 million grant to come up with…
www.sfchronicle.com
Alaska?s Fisheries Are Collapsing. This Congresswoman Is Taking on the Industry She Says Is to Blame.
Alaska’s Fisheries Are Collapsing. This Congresswoman Is Taking on the Industry She Says Is to Blame.
Mary Peltola won her election by campaigning on a platform to save the state’s prized fisheries. A powerful fishing lobby is standing in her way.
www.politico.com
Jimmy Carter's final foe: A parasitic worm that preyed on millions in Africa and Asia
Jimmy Carter’s final foe: A parasitic worm that preyed on millions in Africa and Asia
One of former President Carter’s biggest hopes is wiping out an infectious parasitic disease that’s plagued humans for millennia. How close is he?
www.latimes.com
Climate Extremes Threaten California?s Central Valley Songbirds - Eos
Climate Extremes Threaten California’s Central Valley Songbirds – Eos
A “nestbox highway” in California’s Central Valley is guiding songbirds to safe nesting sites and giving scientists a peek at fledgling success in a changing climate.
eos.org
Alaska Republican touts benefits of children being abused to death
Alaska Republican touts benefits of children being abused to death
Republican David Eastman suggested the death of child abuse victims could be a “cost savings” to wider society.
www.newsweek.com
Editorial: Newsom's drought order amid wet winter threatens iconic California species
Editorial: Newsom’s drought order amid wet winter threatens iconic California species
Gov. Gavin Newsom has effectively ended environmental regulations protecting California rivers and migratory fish by extending drought-year waivers.
www.latimes.com
Two-thirds of McPherson Square homeless remain on street, D.C. says
Two-thirds of McPherson Square homeless remain on street, D.C. says
As of Thursday, just two of the more than 70 residents of McPherson Square had been placed in permanent D.C. housing.
www.washingtonpost.com
More Building Won?t Make Housing Affordable
More Building Won’t Make Housing Affordable
America’s housing crisis has reached unfathomable proportions. But new construction isn’t enough to solve it.
newrepublic.com
Why YIMBYs are about to sue the daylights out of cities across the Bay Area
Why YIMBYs are about to sue the daylights out of cities across the Bay Area
Housing advocates are about to deliver a message to the Bay Area: Comply with state…
www.sfchronicle.com
At the heart of Colorado River crisis, the mighty 'Law of the River' holds sway
At the heart of Colorado River crisis, the mighty ‘Law of the River’ holds sway
At the heart of tensions over water allotments from the Colorado River is a complex set of agreements and decrees known as the ‘Law of the River.’
www.latimes.com
Biden restores roadless protection to the Tongass, North America's largest rainforest
Biden restores roadless protection to the Tongass, North America’s largest rainforest
The Tongass National Forest in Alaska, a focus of political battles over old-growth logging and road-building in forests for decades, has received new protection from the Biden administration.
theconversation.com

Find us on Facebook

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Footer

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Subscribe for Free

* indicates required

Search

• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 The Valley Citizen

Dedicated to the memory of John Michael Flint. Contact us at thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Editor and publisher: Eric Caine

Website customization and maintenance by Susan Henley Design