The candidates running for the Merced City Council have begun their effort to appeal to voters, raise cash and highlight their ability to be worthy public servants.
Five candidates will challenge one another for the three open City Council seats. Three council veterans will face off for the mayor's seat, a two-year term.
Voters go to the polls Nov. 3.
Jim Sanders, Joe Cortez and Bill Spriggs are all serving their second and final term as councilmen. Mayor Ellie Wooten is also finishing her final term as mayor.
The following is a brief overview of each candidate for mayor and City Council.
MAYOR CANDIDATES
Michele Gabriault-Acosta
AGE: 57
OCCUPATION: Real estate agent
YEARS IN MERCED: Born and raised here
CAMPAIGN SLOGAN: None yet
REASON FOR RUNNING: Gabriault-Acosta wants to continue giving back to the community. "I've got the record of making decisions that meet the challenges," she said.
TOP GOAL IF ELECTED: She wants to keep the city in healthy financial shape and meet the challenges that will come in the following years. "I'll continue to be a voice (for the community)," she said.
Rick Osorio
AGE: 63
OCCUPATION: Retired insurance/finance businessman
YEARS IN MERCED: 21
CAMPAIGN SLOGAN: New direction, new choice.
REASON FOR RUNNING: Osorio, a former councilman, is running for mayor to bring jobs and make sure the city stays affordable for all its residents. "I want to help get the city out of where it's at. It's been very tough for us here," Osorio said. "My main goal is to serve the people."
TOP GOAL IF ELECTED: Osorio wants to create more jobs in Merced. "If we can, I'd like us to be the center of the universe for green technology," he said.
Bill Spriggs
AGE: 58
OCCUPATION: Real estate appraiser
YEARS IN MERCED: More than 40
CAMPAIGN SLOGAN: Fiscal responsibility.
REASON FOR RUNNING: Spriggs said the past eight years on the council have given him the experience to lead the city during what's expected to be a tumultuous couple of years. "We're going to see significant declines in our revenue," he said, adding that the city needs to prioritize its services.
TOP GOAL IF ELECTED: Spriggs said he wants to maintain the level of service to residents and bring in more employers. "It's really competitive," he said. "We're not the only city looking for employers."
COUNCIL CANDIDATES
Bill Blake
AGE: 59
OCCUPATION: Merced County Undersheriff
YEARS IN MERCED: Born and raised here
CAMPAIGN SLOGAN: None yet
REASON FOR RUNNING: Blake said he wants to improve the quality of life in Merced, which includes bringing in good jobs. "I'm really scared this recovery is going to leave us behind," Blake said.
TOP GOAL IF ELECTED: After making sure people are protected through an active police force, he wants to create jobs that will help all residents on both sides of the train tracks. "I'd like to see Merced grow and grow smart," he said.
Richard Cervantes
AGE: 27
OCCUPATION: Welding supervisor
YEARS IN MERCED: Born and raised here
CAMPAIGN SLOGAN: None yet
REASON FOR RUNNING: Cervantes said he wants to make a difference in the community. "I want to make this place a more enjoyable place to live," he said.
TOP GOAL IF ELECTED: Creating jobs is the basis of his campaign for office. The key is to make it easy for businesses to open here, he said. "We need to take away some of the roadblocks or deregulate," Cervantes said.
Josh Pedrozo
AGE: 26
OCCUPATION: Merced High School teacher
YEARS IN MERCED: Born and raised here
CAMPAIGN SLOGAN: Communication, collaboration and common sense.
REASON FOR RUNNING: Pedrozo said public service has always been important to him. Merced is at a critical point in plotting its future. "We need to all be able to sit at the table and move our city into the future," he said.
TOP GOAL IF ELECTED: In office, Pedrozo said he'd work to increase the city's economic development and get people back in jobs. He also wants to offer more activities for children and teenagers. "The goal is to have less gangs and graffiti," he said.
Carl Pollard
AGE: 47
OCCUPATION: Medical transport driver
YEARS IN MERCED: Born and raised here
CAMPAIGN SLOGAN: None yet
REASON FOR RUNNING: Pollard, a South Merced resident himself, said he wants to give the south end of the city representation in local government.
TOP GOAL IF ELECTED: He said he wants to create more jobs by making it easier for businesses to open up in Merced. To accomplish this, he'd like to reduce fees and eliminate red tape. "Why are we making it hard for them?" he said.
Mary-Michal Rawling
AGE: 28
OCCUPATION: Program manager
YEARS IN MERCED: Seven years here; born and raised in Modesto
CAMPAIGN SLOGAN: Staying strong. Growing healthy.
REASON FOR RUNNING: Rawling said she believes there are a lot of opportunities for Merced that need to be seized. She also said she'll bring a different perspective through her background in health and medical care.
TOP GOAL IF ELECTED: Merced needs to grow in a way that makes the city vibrant and healthy. The growth should meet the needs of all residents, she said. "The people here are great," she said.
Reporter Scott Jason can be reached at (209) 385-2453 or sjason@mercedsun-star.com.
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