Three new Merced City Council members take oath of office. ‘We’ve got a high bar set’
Three newly-elected members of the seven-seat Merced City Council joined the dais during Monday’s meeting, heralding a new era of city leadership as the New Year approaches.
Meanwhile, two outgoing members of the council shared tearful goodbyes to the community and their supporters.
Ronnie DeAnda, Shane Smith and Fue Xiong all took their new seats on the council after winning the Nov. 8 election.
DeAnda, a retired mailman, replaces Fernando Echevarria in the District 2 seat, which covers southwest Merced.
Smith, a legal counselor, replaces outgoing council member Kevin Blake, who termed out in District 4, which covers northeast Merced.
Xiong, works as an engineer for the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, won the District 6 seat over incumbent Delray Shelton. District 6 covers much of the city north of Yosemite Avenue.
With his daughter Selina sitting on his lap, Smith said he was honored for this opportunity and hopes to keep the City of Merced moving in the right direction.
“We’ve got a high bar set by the prior council and those that have come before us,” Smith said. “We’ve got two years guys to be the best City Council in the history of the city so I look forward to getting off on the right foot working with everybody here and doing great things for our community.”
DeAnda thanked his family for their support and convincing him to run for the right reasons. “I’m not going to make any promises except one, I will do my very best to take care of this city to the best of my ability,” DeAnda said.
The three new members will face numerous challenges during their two-year term. High crime remains the top issue for many Merced residents, particularly in the wake of the shocking homicide of 8-year-old Sophia Mason and the recent fatal shooting of a 9-month-old baby Darius King Grigsby.
Also the council will have to figure out what happens to Measure C, a public safety half-cent sales tax that provides $7 million annually, supporting 30 police and fire jobs.
Measure C is scheduled to sunset in 2026, and it failed to get enough council votes earlier this year to be placed on the November ballot.
Poverty impacts a quarter of the city’s 90,000 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Plus, affordable housing remains a big issue for many Merced residents, with the median home price now over $400,000. Meanwhile, the supply has been frustratingly tight, especially for UC Merced students.
Affordable housing was one of the main platforms during Xiong’s campaign.
“This victory shows people over profit wins elections and so this is about the many and not the few,” Xiong said. “Our policies should center on indigenous sovereignty, black liberation and the impacted communities as we work together to build a Merced that reflects our value and our visions.”
Echeverria was absent from the meeting.
Council member Jesse Ornales praised Echeverria’s devotion during his four years on the council. “He was passionate about everything he did up here,” Orenales said. “Sometimes too passionate. I know he’s not here for whatever reasons. I hope he hears this and that he knows he should be proud of the things he did accomplish for south Merced.”
“I hope that I represented you well.”
Both Blake and Shelton were emotional as they gave their outgoing remarks.
Blake, who is a Merced County Sheriff’s deputy, served nine years on the City Council. “I’ve always done the best with what I’ve been given,” Blake said. “I hope that I represented you well. I hope that it was sufficient. It’s been one of the greatest honors of my life.”
Shelton, who is a lieutenant in the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, served four years on the council.
“To the past and current council, I’m so proud of the life-changing work that the two councils I’ve sat on has done,” Shelton said. “The work has been tough but it’s been transformative. Although not perfect, we built a community that the people can be proud of.”
Both Blake and Shelton thanked past and current City Council members they have worked with, city officials and staff. Blake also offered advice for the new council members.
“The sooner that you can accept that this office is not about you, but about the residents of this great city and the employees of this great city, and at the end of the day, most of the stuff that is done, or that is said up here isn’t personal, the more effective and the more at peace with yourselves you’ll be,” Blake said.
This story was originally published December 6, 2022 at 1:52 PM.
