The regular and extended filing periods for Riverbank mayoral and council seat elections have come and gone, leaving the Riverbank City Council with decisions to be made concerning the fall ballot.
Late last week, City Clerk and Election Officer Annabelle Aguilar scheduled a brief, special council meeting to be held prior to the regular 6 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 23. It was set for 5:30 p.m. The meeting was past press time for The News.
The council was slated to decide then whether to appoint the mayor and a district council member, both of whom had no one file to run against them, or go to ahead with putting them on the ballot for the November election.
Only incumbent Mayor Richard D. O’Brien filed for nomination for election to the office by the end of the regular filing period, which was Friday, Aug. 12. Only incumbent council member Darlene Barber-Martinez, in District 4, filed for that seat.
Pursuant to Election Code 10229, when no one or only one candidate is nominated for office, a special City Council meeting is scheduled at the City Hall Council Chambers, 6707 Third St., Suite B, Riverbank, to consider what to do.
In District 2, the other council seat up for election, incumbent Jeanine Tucker decided not to run. In that case, according to Aguilar, the filing period gets extended five days, which ended at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 17.
Aguilar reported that two candidates filed completed nomination papers during that time, with Anthony McKinney and Cindy Fosi both tossing their hats into the ring.
Anthony McKinney is a local Realtor and current president of the Riverbank Chamber of Commerce, who lives in the eastern part of District 2, east of the rail yard.
McKinney lists committee service among his qualifications for the council seat. He serves on the city’s Planning Commission, currently as Vice Chair. He’s also on the Budget Advisory Committee as Vice Chair, and serves currently in a similar seat on the city Water Appeals Board.
He pointed to Economics, Housing, Revitalization and Social Services as his key issues.
Cindy Fosi is the second candidate for District 2; she lives in the Crossroads area of Riverbank. She has worked for 12 years for the City of Modesto as an Administrative Analyst in the Wastewater and Stormwater Division, where she works with budgets, special projects and grants.
She also serves on the Riverbank Budget Advisory Committee, continuing since it was first formed, and she is a past chair.
In addition, Fosi served as Treasurer of the Crossroads PTA for the five years her daughter attended there.
The election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
New Polling Places?
With the advent of District Elections in the City of Riverbank, voters are wondering how those changes might affect where they will be voting in November.
City Elections Clerk Aguilar said that where the polls will be located is up to the County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, Lee Lundrigan. Aguilar said she expects to get more information from the county as the election draws closer.
Register to Vote
According to the city’s website, Monday, Oct. 24, 2016, is the last day to register to vote. To register, one can visit www.stanvote.com, www.registertovote.ca.gov, or the City Clerk’s office, 6707 Third St., Suite A, in downtown Riverbank.
