Five candidates will square off in the race for the top spot in the city, running for Riverbank mayor in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 election.
In order to profile those running in the race, The News sent out a questionnaire to all candidates seeking information about them including name, occupation, education, family information and any previous public offices held. They also were asked a number of questions, with the answers shown below.
Candidate replies are listed in alphabetical order.
MARK ENSLEY - Shop superintendent, Christian Brothers High School class of 1974 and Cosumnes River College, spouse Judy Ensley, three grown children, Riverbank Elementary School District board of trustees from 1997, Riverbank Unified School District Board 2001-2005, district bond oversight committee, Riverbank Language Academy (RLA) board of directors 2007-present.
LARRY KING - Oakdale Hearing Aid Company owner, associate degree in behavioral science, spouse Donna, two grown children, have not held public office before.
VIRGINIA MADUENO - Business owner, 1989 bachelor of arts degree from California State University Stanislaus degree in communications, 2006 NHLI Executive Leadership program at JFK School of Government at Harvard and 2009 MBE Program at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, spouse Ramiro Madueno, three school-age children, appointed to the Riverbank City Council 2005-November of 2008.
RICHARD O'BRIEN - Retired US Navy Commander of 28 years service and businessman for nine years, 2005 master's degree in business administration from University of Mary Washington, spouse Christy O'Brien (married 36 years), grown daughter who is a children's librarian in Modesto, grown son who is a computer programmer in Virginia, and eight grandchildren, no previous public office.
DAVE WHITE - Retired barber, three years college, spouse Jan, three grown children, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren; mayor and councilmember at intervals for a total of 17 years.
Candidates also were asked what their qualifications for office are, why they are running, what their priorities would be once in office and what their community involvement and activities are outside of work. Following are their responses:
ENSLEY
Service as president of seven years combined on school district boards of trustees, bond oversight committee and RLA.
The Council needs new and effective leadership, a person that can run the meetings with civility and rule of law, where a citizen can come and get honest answers.
His priorities are to run the Council effectively, make sure every citizen has a voice, lead the way in providing good jobs, have a policy committee to look at the way it operates, finish projects in a timely manner and see the sewer system is repaired as soon as possible.
Working and serving on various boards leaves him little time but he has done and will do volunteer work, such as for the Community Center Halloween, for Jacob Myers Park, for the community pool, city Spring Clean, etc.
KING
Having held management positions for 15 years and owned a business for 10 years, he believes the skills used in business can also be used to perform the duties of mayor.
Running for office because he believes Riverbank needs a fresh perspective and that is something he can provide.
His priority for Riverbank is to bring the public back into the decision making process and create a better way for citizens to influence important issues and remain informed.
He has been a member of both the Riverbank and Oakdale chambers of commerce and participated in community Christmas dinners, Halloween parades and highway cleanups.
MADUENO
She is a successful small business owner with 20 years of management experience and prior experience on the City Council.
She is running for mayor to help make a difference in the community, bring effective and new leadership to City Hall, ensure public safety and help bring good paying jobs to the area.
Her priorities are ensuring the health and safety of the citizens, increasing economic development opportunities through the Army Ammunition Plant and helping the local economy thrive with the downtown beautification project.
Community involvement includes vice president for the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of California, foundation board member for the Family Justice Center, board member of Youth Action Commission of Stanislaus County, member of Presidents Council for California State University Stanislaus and currently participating in the Great Valley Center American Leadership Forum inaugural class.
O'BRIEN
His qualifications include strong leadership skills and extensive planning experience during 28 years in the military, setting goals and evaluating results as a businessman, and a promise to be steadfast in setting city finances in order and ensuring tax dollars are spent wisely.
His reasons for running are to bring accountability to the Council, add a common sense approach to the decision making process and bring under control what he considers as the spending spree the Council has had over the last four years.
His priorities are to establish accountability in city government, work closely with the Chamber of Commerce to expand jobs and business, control city spending and work on future budgetary issues,
His community involvement includes Veterans of Foreign Wars, his church, charity events, his wife's charity events and his family.
WHITE
Said he is the most qualified to be the mayor because he has 17 years on the job.
His priority is to bring jobs to Riverbank.
As to community involvement, being vice mayor takes most of his time. But he loves meeting with people and helping them solve their problems. His door is always open and he looks forward to helping residents. Over the years he has personally delivered tons of clothing and other basic supplies to orphanages in Mexico. He also has begun work on similar projects in South Africa and The Ukraine, paying his own costs when traveling on these missions of mercy.
On the ballot there is also a sixth candidate PAUL GUTIERREZ who served one term previously on the Council but he has not attended or spoken at public meetings nor answered this questionnaire on his candidacy.
Voters will elect the mayor on Nov. 3.
In order to profile those running in the race, The News sent out a questionnaire to all candidates seeking information about them including name, occupation, education, family information and any previous public offices held. They also were asked a number of questions, with the answers shown below.
Candidate replies are listed in alphabetical order.
MARK ENSLEY - Shop superintendent, Christian Brothers High School class of 1974 and Cosumnes River College, spouse Judy Ensley, three grown children, Riverbank Elementary School District board of trustees from 1997, Riverbank Unified School District Board 2001-2005, district bond oversight committee, Riverbank Language Academy (RLA) board of directors 2007-present.
LARRY KING - Oakdale Hearing Aid Company owner, associate degree in behavioral science, spouse Donna, two grown children, have not held public office before.
VIRGINIA MADUENO - Business owner, 1989 bachelor of arts degree from California State University Stanislaus degree in communications, 2006 NHLI Executive Leadership program at JFK School of Government at Harvard and 2009 MBE Program at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, spouse Ramiro Madueno, three school-age children, appointed to the Riverbank City Council 2005-November of 2008.
RICHARD O'BRIEN - Retired US Navy Commander of 28 years service and businessman for nine years, 2005 master's degree in business administration from University of Mary Washington, spouse Christy O'Brien (married 36 years), grown daughter who is a children's librarian in Modesto, grown son who is a computer programmer in Virginia, and eight grandchildren, no previous public office.
DAVE WHITE - Retired barber, three years college, spouse Jan, three grown children, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren; mayor and councilmember at intervals for a total of 17 years.
Candidates also were asked what their qualifications for office are, why they are running, what their priorities would be once in office and what their community involvement and activities are outside of work. Following are their responses:
ENSLEY
Service as president of seven years combined on school district boards of trustees, bond oversight committee and RLA.
The Council needs new and effective leadership, a person that can run the meetings with civility and rule of law, where a citizen can come and get honest answers.
His priorities are to run the Council effectively, make sure every citizen has a voice, lead the way in providing good jobs, have a policy committee to look at the way it operates, finish projects in a timely manner and see the sewer system is repaired as soon as possible.
Working and serving on various boards leaves him little time but he has done and will do volunteer work, such as for the Community Center Halloween, for Jacob Myers Park, for the community pool, city Spring Clean, etc.
KING
Having held management positions for 15 years and owned a business for 10 years, he believes the skills used in business can also be used to perform the duties of mayor.
Running for office because he believes Riverbank needs a fresh perspective and that is something he can provide.
His priority for Riverbank is to bring the public back into the decision making process and create a better way for citizens to influence important issues and remain informed.
He has been a member of both the Riverbank and Oakdale chambers of commerce and participated in community Christmas dinners, Halloween parades and highway cleanups.
MADUENO
She is a successful small business owner with 20 years of management experience and prior experience on the City Council.
She is running for mayor to help make a difference in the community, bring effective and new leadership to City Hall, ensure public safety and help bring good paying jobs to the area.
Her priorities are ensuring the health and safety of the citizens, increasing economic development opportunities through the Army Ammunition Plant and helping the local economy thrive with the downtown beautification project.
Community involvement includes vice president for the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of California, foundation board member for the Family Justice Center, board member of Youth Action Commission of Stanislaus County, member of Presidents Council for California State University Stanislaus and currently participating in the Great Valley Center American Leadership Forum inaugural class.
O'BRIEN
His qualifications include strong leadership skills and extensive planning experience during 28 years in the military, setting goals and evaluating results as a businessman, and a promise to be steadfast in setting city finances in order and ensuring tax dollars are spent wisely.
His reasons for running are to bring accountability to the Council, add a common sense approach to the decision making process and bring under control what he considers as the spending spree the Council has had over the last four years.
His priorities are to establish accountability in city government, work closely with the Chamber of Commerce to expand jobs and business, control city spending and work on future budgetary issues,
His community involvement includes Veterans of Foreign Wars, his church, charity events, his wife's charity events and his family.
WHITE
Said he is the most qualified to be the mayor because he has 17 years on the job.
His priority is to bring jobs to Riverbank.
As to community involvement, being vice mayor takes most of his time. But he loves meeting with people and helping them solve their problems. His door is always open and he looks forward to helping residents. Over the years he has personally delivered tons of clothing and other basic supplies to orphanages in Mexico. He also has begun work on similar projects in South Africa and The Ukraine, paying his own costs when traveling on these missions of mercy.
On the ballot there is also a sixth candidate PAUL GUTIERREZ who served one term previously on the Council but he has not attended or spoken at public meetings nor answered this questionnaire on his candidacy.
Voters will elect the mayor on Nov. 3.
