Valley Solutions

Election Day, the early results

Modesto Bee. Adam Gray, Kevin Lincoln expected to advance in 13^th Congressional District. 
Synopsis: As of 8:58 p.m. Tuesday, Adam Gray led his primary race for CA’s 13^th Congressional District with 42.4% of the votes. Kevin Lincoln, whose last known address was outside the district, is second at 28.1%. Vin Kruttiventi, a recent transplant from the Bay Area, had 16.4% and Daniel Rodriguez had around 13%. “I appreciate the strong support from voters across CA’s 13^th District,” Gray said. “Our campaign is focused on putting the Valley first and earning support from Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike.” In his first term in Congress, Gray was appointed to the influential Agriculture and Natural Resources committees and was selected for a leadership role in the Blue Dog Coalition of moderate Democrats. What resulted was the passage of the long-overdue Farm Bill.
MAD Note: The reporter didn’t pick up on it, but Gray was the leading vote-getter in all five of the counties that make up the far-flung district – Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin. No candidate had led in all five counties since the district was reconfigured in 2020.

In Merced, Lara is far ahead

Merced Sun Star. Lara, Silveira hold solid leads in Merced County board of supervisors races. 
Synopsis: Newcomer Luis Lara, a recently retired CHP officer, built a substantial lead in District 3 against three-term incumbent Daron McDaniel. Lara had 58.2% of the early vote. Both Lara and McDaniel noted that many more ballots remain to be counted. In District 5, incumbent Scott Silveira had 66.4% of the votes, well ahead of political newcomer Miguel Alejandre. “I’m feeling really good,” said Silveira. No update is expected until Friday.

Merced Focus. Early Merced County superintendent results show tight race with Lopez in lead.
Synopsis: Merced River School District Superintendent Richard Lopez had a narrow lead in preliminary vote-counting on Tuesday. Lopez had 34% of the votes despite recent stories that his district is being investigated by the state’s Fiscal Crisis & Management Team for misappropriation of funds.

In Stanislaus, Measure J sinks

Modesto Bee. In updated, unofficial results, Salida voters reject Measure J fire-service tax. 
Synopsis: Salida residents appear to have soundly rejected an annual tax to fund the Salida Fire Protection District. So far, the measure requires 66.6% for passage but got support from only 46.2% of voters. The measure would have added $168 to property tax bills for single-family homes and $126 for apartments and duplexes.

Modesto Bee. In early election results, Stanislaus County Supervisor Grewal holds strong lead.
Synopsis: Supervisor Mani Grewal had a commanding 76.5% lead in the early count of votes for District 4 on the board of supervisors, which covers a large portion of Modesto and the Del Rio neighborhood. Grewal served on the Modesto city council and was appointed to his seat in 2021 then elected in 2022.

In Fresno, 70,000 to count

GV Wire. Fresno County has more than 70,000 ballots left to count after Tuesday election.
Synopsis: Don’t put too much stock in those election-day results. That could have been the message from the Fresno County registrar of voters, who noted that as of Tuesday night more than 70,000 votes – roughly 70 percent -- remain to be counted in Fresno County. James Kus said his office received 101,000 ballots by close-of-business Tuesday, including 82,000 mail-in ballots. He said it would take at least 7 days to count even 95% of those ballots.

Fresno Bee. CA voters feel increasingly disillusioned with political system.
Synopsis: Former cross-country coach Espi Sandoval, who has been canvassing neighborhoods for a supervisorial candidate in western Fresno County, writes about the conversations had along the way. Many people told Sandoval they will no longer vote in any election because they feel “disconnected, unheard and forgotten.” Politicians come around at election time but are seldom seen until the next election cycle, said Sandoval.

Fresnoland. Former Fresno sheriff poised to win supervisor’s race outright; others too close to call. 
Synopsis: Former Sheriff Margaret Mims got 64% of the early vote, leaving her nearest challenger well behind at 12%. That signals Mims will be the next District 4 supervisor. In Fresno City Council District 5, Brandon Vang has 52% of the early vote, well ahead of Danielle Parra. Other early leaders include Mike Karbassi, Nav Gurm, Joaquin Arambula and Mike Murphy – though their races are much closer.

In other election news …

Fresno Bee. Valadao moves forward, Villegas edges ahead of Bains in critical 22^nd District.
Synopsis: Rep. David Valadao had a strong 44.5% of the vote in the open primary for CA House District 22. Challengers Randy Villegas and Dr. Jasmeet Bains were locked in a close battle to challenge Valadao in November. Villegas had 29.6% of the early vote followed by Bains at 25.9% but at least 50% of the vote remains to be counted. The district is rated “tilts Republican” by most of tracking organizations. While liberals preferred Villegas, Bains – a pediatrician -- was seen as the stronger candidate for the general election.

Stocktonia. Stockton council incumbents lead and one may barely avoid a runoff.
Synopsis: In early results, only Michele Padilla appears to have the votes necessary (51%) to secure a spot on the city council. Michael Blower and Brandon Villapudua both lead their respective races but will head to a runoff in November. Voter turnout was 18.1%, with some 15,000 showing up at the polls Tuesday.

Turlock Journal. Early results show incumbent Alvarado-Gil sitting in third place for senate District 4. 
Joe Cortez reports that Democrat Jaron Brandon was the leading candidate in the primary as Republicans Alexandra Duarte and Marie Alvarado-Gil split the Republican vote. Brandon had 39.8% of the vote compared to Duarte’s 32% and Alvarado-Gil’s 28.2%. Brandon called his a “personal campaign” with local support. “That we were outspent and still are on top, that gives us great hope for November.” The two Republicans had waged a ferocious and nasty campaign against each other. The district includes parts of 13 different counties.

On lookout for sharpshooters

Ag Alert. State targets sharpshooters from Costco grapevines. 
Synopsis: Costco stores in 20 counties sold grapevines carrying the glassy-wing sharpshooter, which spreads Pierce’s Disease to grapevines – including stores in Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Merced counites. The vines were delivered from Burchell Nursery in Fresno, which has been working with the state to contain the infestation. Of 220 grapevines delivered to stores, 63 have been identified and destroyed. The remaining 157 are thought to be in the Napa area – one of the most important grape-growing regions of the state. Sharpshooters also attack almonds, citrus and stone fruit. The cost to CA of the disease is about $110 million a year.

Women lead way in ag (duh)

Morning Ag Clips. Study finds women in agriculture ready to lead; more support needed. 
Synopsis: The American Farm Bureau Federation released the results of a study that found where agriculture flourishes, women are often doing some of the heavy lifting. The study showed women are “raising crops and tending livestock but also balancing off-farm jobs, caring for children, volunteering in their community and so much more,” said AFFB Women’s Leadership Chair Isabella Chism. More than half of women surveyed say they want more training in everything from farm finance to tractor repair. 
MAD Take: Does this study surprise anyone? California’s Farm Bureau state president is a woman. Many of our county ag commissioners are women. Women run many of our farms, with or without help from men. Look at the FFA. Lots of girls rocking those blue jackets.

New health food: Pistachios

CA Ag Net. Studies indicate pistachios healthier than previously thought.
Synopsis: Apparently, pistachios can help you lose weight. Research from Texas Tech shows that they act as sort of a natural GLP-1. More importantly, they can reduce the bad fat in blood to help maintain a healthier heart.

Getting drunks off the road

Cal Matters. Eight bills related to License to Kill advance in the Legislature. 
Synopsis: In a spectacular series of stories this year, two Cal Matters reporters explained how California’s lackadaisical approach to drunk driving has resulted in hundreds of deaths at the hands of drunken drivers. After their stories appeared, 17 laws were proposed to crack down on drunken driving. Only eight remain. Crash victims and survivors are demanding tougher laws, but the ACLU and trial lawyers are pushing back.
MAD Take: These eight remaining bills should be a litmus test for anyone running for state office: Will you remove deadly drunks from our highways, or will you coddle killers? Until we make the penalties for driving drunk more profound, and enforce them, we cannot make our highways safer.

DHS intrudes on tragedy

Modesto Bee. DHS blames CA sanctuary law in Modesto triple homicide; Newsom, expert push back. 
Synopsis: The Dept of Homeland Security inserted itself into a heinous local crime and tragedy. DHS released a meaningless statement blaming CA for not turning over Joaquin Escoto to federal immigration authorities after his DUI arrest last year. Escoto is accused of stabbing to death his infant child, the child’s mother and grandmother. Gov. Newsom’s office said, Our hearts go out to the victims,” then pointed out that DHS could have arrested Escoto on several occasions since he had been deported once before. “Had they charged the suspect with unlawful re-entry after learning of his 2025 arrest, local law enforcement would have honored the federal warrant.” Newsom’s office said CA authorities have coordinated the transfer of 12,000 individuals into ICE custody since 2019. A law professor at UC Davis said the DHS statement omitted details about how CA’s sanctuary law and mischaracterized how it actually works. “ICE officers have the ability to use local police databases to identify people of interest,” said Prof. Kevin Johnson. “They can arrest who they want for immigration violations.”

Boucher a grand marshal

Turlock Journal. Longtime downtown business owner selected as grand marshal for July 4 parade. 
Synopsis: Harry Boucher, longtime owner of Carr’s Cleaners in Turlock, will lead the Independence Day Parade on July 3. “It’s an honor,” said Boucher, who has been a member of the downtown business community for 47 years. He was the Chamber’s leader of the year in 1993 and led a statewide task force looking at cleaning industry chemicals.

It’s Graffiti time in Modesto

Modesto Bee. Massive Modesto celebration brings home its Hollywood bragging rights. 
Synopsis: It’s Graffiti time. Cruising. Car shows. Music. The movie “American Graffiti” was Modesto’s most lasting moment in the sun, and the annual celebrations built around the movie make the most of that moment. This year’s parade is June 12 with a car show and festival June 13-14. To see the movie, go to the State Theatre on June 6 at 1 p.m. The Street Rod Assn’s Graffiti Classic is June 7 at McHenry Village. During the Legends of the Cruise Park ‘N Shine & Walk of Fame on June 10, new members of the Cruising Hall of Fame will be inducted. There are more car shows, sing-alongs, performances, a kids’ cruise and even a VIP event prior to the big parade scheduled for the period.
MAD Take: Just because I’m a purist, the movie “American Graffiti” did not take place in June. It was set in September, around Labor Day when high school students were preparing to return to school and June’s graduates were preparing to depart for college. The movie is about rites of passage, the end of an era, the end of youth, the end of perpetual summer. And cars.