So who are these candidates running for Sacramento mayor this election year? Well of course familiar names for the upcoming ballot are incumbent Mayor Heather Fargo and the perennial candidate Leonard Padilla. But there are some new players joining the game. Here’s some brief information on them.
HEATHER FARGO
Age: 55
Occupation: Incumbent Mayor
Fargo took the office of mayor in 2001, replacing Jimmie Yee who served as interim mayor after the death of Joe Serna.
She has served on the Sacramento City Council in 1989, serving as the District 1 representative. She continued on being re-elected to the position in 1994 and 1998.
Useful Links:
ADAM DANIEL
Age: 31
Occuaption: Human resources trainer
The Sacramento native comes from a conserative family, says on his Web site that he’s running because Sacramentans “deserve better options then a rich basketball player.” He adds on his MySpace page that “simply because I love my city.”
Campaign Web site(s): adamdaniel4mayor.com and myspace.com/adamdaniel4mayor
Key Issues:
- K Street improvements
- Sacramento Police Department improved relationships with community
- High school vocational programs
- Improve city budget
SHAWN ELDREDGE
Age: 42
Occuaption: Capital Painting and Construction owner and general contractor
This self-proclaimed political geek was the past president of the Midtown Business Association and a single father.
Campaign Web site(s): shawn4mayor.com
Key Issues:
- Public Safety
- Environmental friently public transportation
- New arena
- Investment in Natomas
- Improve budget
KEVIN JOHNSON
Age: 42
Occuaption: CEO of St. Hope
The Sacramento High alum played in the NBA for 12 seasons and after his retirement, returned to Sacramento to revitalize the ailing community of Oak Park.
Campaign Web site(s): kevinjohnsonformayor.com
Key Issues:
- Reducing crime
- Improve education
- Improve city finances
- Economic development and increase jobs
- Improve quality of life
RICHARD JONES
Age: 73
Occupation: Retired insurance broker
Jones told the Sacramento Bee that he is running for mayor because “this town needs new blood.” Although he doesn’t plan to spend a lot for his campaign, he is taking his run seriously.
Key Issues:
- Youth crime
- Increase salaries for teachers and firegighters
LEONARD PADILLA
Age: 68
Occuaption: “world famous bounty hunter”
This isn’t the first time Padilla has run for mayor, in fact this is his fourth run at the office. He has also ran for congress in 2005 and for a supervisor’s seat in 2006.
Web site(s): leonardpadilla.com
Key Issues:
- Increase Sacramento Police Department anti-drug and anti-gang department
- Institute City Marshal’s Office
- Increase Natomas development
MURIEL STRAND
Age: 53
Occuaption: Sustainability engineer
According to her blog, Strand is running to “Sacramento’s sustainable future to be central to the public discussion and debate.”
Campaign Web site(s): sustainablesacramento.blogspot.com
Key Issues:
- Sustainable education
- Ban nonrecyclable plastic take-out food containers
- Tax laws, plastic bags, and parking spaces
- Revize zoning laws to keep certain livestock in residential neighborhoods
- Lobby for bicycle-friendly traffic laws
- These are just a few, see her blog entry, “Phase 2 Sustainable Ideas for Sacrament,” for more.
