Hear from the candidates: When, where primary election forums are happening in Stockton
Political campaign signs are popping up on lawns. Candidates are feuding on social media. Election season is officially underway.
With just five weeks until the March 5 primary, now is the time to learn about the candidates seeking to represent Stockton and San Joaquin County. Starting Monday, several organizations will be hosting forums to give voters the chance to hear from the candidates running for office and their priorities.
This is a critical election year for Stockton. Voters will choose a new mayor and three seats on the Stockton City Council are up for grabs. Three seats on the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors will also appear on the March 5 primary ballot, as well as a seat on the San Joaquin County Board of Education.
U.S. Rep. Josh Harder is running for reelection to represent San Joaquin County in California's 9th Congressional District. He is facing three challengers: Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln, businessman Khalid Jeffrey Jafri, and coach John McBride.
At the state level, Assemblyman Carlos Villapudua, businessman Jim Shoemaker, and former U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney are eyeing the California State Senate District 5 seat being vacated by Susan Talamantes Eggman, who is nearing the end of her term.
The assemblyman's wife, Edith Villapudua, is looking to fill the seat being vacated by her husband. She is running against Rhodesia Ransom, a staffer to Harder, and political newcomer Denise Aguilar to represent District 13 in the California State Assembly.
Here's when and where the forums will be happening, and who will be attending.
Jan. 29: Reinvent South Stockton Coalition
Candidates who are seeking to represent District 6 on the Stockton City Council and Districts 1, 3 and 5 on the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors will attend Reinvent South Stockton Coalition's two-part forum.
Candidates running for Stockton mayor and Superior Court Judge Office 3 will also participate.
Stockton mayor candidates include businessman Shakeel Ahmad, nonprofit director Jesus Andrade, educator Christina Fugazi, business owner Jessica Velez, educator and council member Dan Wright, and businessman and county supervisor Tom Patti.
Stockton City Council District 6 candidates include businessman Jason Lee, businessman Ralph White, social worker and council member Kimberly Warmsley, financial advisor and trucker Satnam Singh, pastor Ronnie Murray, and community volunteer Zoyla Moreno.
San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors District 1 candidates include Stockton firefighter Mario Gardea, senate district director Lilliana Udang, county services director Terence West, electrical contractor and businessman Mark L. Stebbins, and county supervisor chief of staff Chris Rouppet.
District 3 candidates include small business owner Angel Sepulveda, Lathrop Mayor Sonny Dhaliwal, and businessman Steve Debrum. District 5 candidates include retired school teacher Wes Huffman, Tracy Mayor Nancy Young, and county supervisor Robert Rickman.
Superior Court Judge Office 3 candidates include supervising criminal prosecutor Caitlin Mujica Casey and deputy district attorney Peter Devencenzi.
Participants will be asked questions related to jobs, parks and transportation. Members of the public can also submit their own questions and propose topics for discussion with the candidates by scanning the QR code on the flyer.
When: 6 to 8 p.m.
Where: Yosemite Room, Courthouse Plaza, 306 E. Main St., Stockton
Admission: Free
Jan. 29: NAACP Stockton Branch
The NAACP Stockton Branch, Black Women Organized for Political Action, Faith in the Valley, and Victory in Praise Church are hosting a four-part candidate forum for community members to hear where the region’s primary candidates stand on local issues.
The first night will feature candidates running for California State Assembly District 13, California State Senate District 5, and U.S. Congressional District 9.
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Victory In Praise Church, 2029 E. Harding Way, Stockton
Admission: Free
Jan. 30: NAACP Stockton Branch
At the second night of NAACP Stockton Branch's forums, community members will hear from candidates running for San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors District 1, District 3 and District 5, and San Joaquin County Board of Education Trustee Area 5.
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Victory In Praise Church, 2029 E. Harding Way, Stockton
Admission: Free
Jan. 31: NAACP Stockton Branch
At the third night of NAACP Stockton Branch's forums, community members will hear from candidates running for Stockton City Council District 2, District 4 and District 6.
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Victory In Praise Church, 2029 E. Harding Way, Stockton
Admission: Free
Feb. 1: NAACP Stockton Branch
At the fourth night of NAACP Stockton Branch's forums, community members will hear from candidates running for Stockton mayor.
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Victory In Praise Church, 2029 E. Harding Way, Stockton
Admission: Free
Feb. 7: San Joaquin Delta College
Community members will have the opportunity to hear from the candidates seeking to represent San Joaquin County at a series of four forums to be held at San Joaquin Delta College.
The Business Council is one of nine organizations that have partnered to put on the forums.
The others include African American Chamber of Commerce, Central Valley Asian-American Chamber of Commerce, Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce, League of Women Voters of San Joaquin County, NAACP, San Joaquin Delta College, San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and The Record.
The forums will be moderated. The candidates will give opening statements and then answer questions presented by panelists.
The first night will feature candidates running for Stockton mayor and Stockton City Council District 2.
Stockton mayor candidates include Andrade, Fugazi, Patti, Wright and Velez.
Stockton City Council District 2 candidates include business owner Anthony Silva, business owner Pamela Pettis-Houston, and county technology manager Waqar Rizvi.
When: Doors open at 5 p.m., forum begins at 6 p.m.
Where: Dawn Mabalon Forum, San Joaquin Delta College, 5151 Pacific Ave., Stockton
Admission: Free
Feb. 8: San Joaquin Delta College
At the second night of San Joaquin Delta College's forums, community members will hear from candidates running for Stockton City Council District 4 and District 6.
Stockton City Council District 4 participants include businesswoman Gina Valadez-Bracamonte, college educator and director Mario Enriquez, education board trustee Ray Zulueta, and nonprofit director Henry Rodriguez III.
Stockton City Council District 6 participants include Moreno, Warmsley and White.
When: Doors open at 5 p.m., forum begins at 6 p.m.
Where: Dawn Mabalon Forum, San Joaquin Delta College, 5151 Pacific Ave., Stockton
Admission: Free
Feb. 12: San Joaquin Delta College
At the third night of San Joaquin Delta College's forums, community members will hear from candidates running for San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors District 3 and San Joaquin County Board of Education Trustee Area 5.
San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors District 3 participants include Sepulveda, Dhaliwal and Debrum.
San Joaquin County Board of Education Trustee Area 5 participants include community college professor Jordan Giannoni and retired school administrator Greg Clark.
When: Doors open at 5 p.m., forum begins at 6 p.m.
Where: Dawn Mabalon Forum, San Joaquin Delta College, 5151 Pacific Ave., Stockton
Admission: Free
Feb. 13: San Joaquin Delta College
At the fourth night of San Joaquin Delta College's forums, community members will hear from candidates running for San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors District 1.
Participants include Gardea, Udang, Stebbins and Rouppet.
When: Doors open at 5 p.m., forum begins at 6 p.m.
Where: Dawn Mabalon Forum, San Joaquin Delta College, 5151 Pacific Ave., Stockton
Admission: Free
Feb. 19: Reinvent South Stockton Coalition
All candidates who attended Reinvent South Stockton Coalition's first forum on Jan. 29 are expected to return to the second forum on Feb. 19.
The discussion at the second forum will center around issues related to affordable housing and unsheltered community members.
When: 6 to 8 p.m.
Where: New Spirit Missionary Baptist Church, 2410 S. Airport Way, Stockton
Admission: Free
Feb. 24: League of Women Voters of San Joaquin County
The spotlight will be on Stockton's fourth district as the LWV partners with the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Stockton to host a candidate forum focused on Stockton City Council District 4.
When: 2 to 4 p.m.
Where: First Unitarian Universalist Church of Stockton, 2737 Pacific Ave., Stockton
Admission: Free
Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: When and where primary election forums are happening in Stockton
