Stockton’s primary election: good top-ticket results

Are you worried yet? You should be.

Stockton primary voters pushed through two mayoral candidates whose support by a local online publisher raise serious questions about whether they’re seeking office for the wrong reasons.

Which is not to say there are no differences between Tom Patti, who has a commanding lead with 34.34%, and Christina Fugazi, second with 22.67%. Only that, in my opinion, Stockton would have been so much better served had Dan Wright made the top two. Wright was in it for the right reasons, and he has the goods.

And Wright, who is third with 18.74%, likely would have finished in the top two were it not for Jesus Andrade. The 4^th-place finisher with 13.33%, Andrade was a spoiler, splitting voters who wanted neither Patti nor Fugazi. 

Of course, Andrade could argue that Wright, a two-term councilman and former vice mayor, was a poor candidate despite his name recognition because of his weak fundraising.

I should add the caveat that Wright has not conceded, though 96% of ballots have been counted. Previous “drops” (ballot-counting updates) changed the standings of several candidates–late results usually favor Democrats, the so-called “blue shift”–but further changes in the standing are unlikely. 

But not impossible.

Let’s start at the top of the local ticket, then circle back through the mayoral race.

In the contest for U.S. Congressional District 9, incumbent Josh Harder, who barely campaigned, coasted to the top spot over Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln by 50.48% to 29.97%. Harder is the strong favorite to win reelection come November.

Lincoln was hurt by his record of accomplishments — he has none — by his dubious associates, by his political missteps, and by the downfall of his strong ally, former Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield. While Kevin McCarthy was House speaker he visited Stockton and lined up donors for him but was deposed as speaker and resigned from Congress.

Don’t count Lincoln entirely out, though. Republicans will coalesce behind him for the general election. If Dems turned off by Biden don’t show up, Lincoln has a slim chance. 

In San Joaquin County, Republican Jim Shoemaker is first in a three-person race for District 5 state senator with 46.44%. But that’s deceptive. Former Rep. Jerry McNerney is second with 31.42% and rival Dem Assembly member Carlos Villapudua third and likely out of the money with 22.14%. In the general election, Villapudua’s votes will most likely go to McNerney, so he’s the strong favorite. 

District 5 also encompasses part of Alameda County, and McNerney is leading there.

The real story here is the defenestration of both Carlos Villapudua and his wife, Edith Villapudua, who was running for Assembly District 13.

I hesitate to recount the confusing maneuvers that led up to these races. For those of you with strong focus, here we go: Carlos Villapudua initially registered to run for reelection in the 13th Assembly District. But when polls showed his wife losing the state senate race to Rhodesia Ransom, the Villapuduas switched places, with Carlos challenging Ransom for state senate and Edith running for Assembly.

But the shrewd plan backfired. McNerney declared for state senate at the last minute; Ransom switched to challenge Edith Villapudua again, this time for Assembly.

Still with me? 

Effective attacks against both Villapuduas focused on Carlos’s promiscuous fundraising and the Villapudua “dynasty.” Carlos raked in money from Big Oil and PG&E, to name but two much-hated corporate donors. Attack ads aimed at Edith even mentioned her husband’s noxious donors. Plus, she was dinged as part of a dynasty, a family that seems to want everyone named Villapudua elected to public office. 

An heir apparent? Voters said no. 

Back to the mayor’s race.

Voters now face two less-than-ideal mayoral candidates who have been supported by the 209 Times, which masquerades as a news site, but which is all about building a political machine.

One way to identify the lesser of two evils is by their stand on Stockton’s honest and competent City Manager Harry Black. The back-room crew, in league with Mayor Kevin Lincoln and stooge Councilwoman Michele Padilla, have long sought to fire Black, Fugazi has ripped Black during the public comment period at City Council meetings. Campaigning, however, at least at public forums, she changed her tune.

“I would say that having a strong relationship with whoever is the city manager is essential in order to carry out the wishes of council,” she said at the Stocktonia debate. “As far as our city manager, the current one, I would say that there are definitely areas in which Mr. Black is very strong. He is very strong with his performance in data analytics. He is very strong in meeting with community members, and building and fostering those relationships, which isn’t something that we had before.”

Tom Patti is no saint. But when I asked him directly about firing Harry Black, this is what he said: 

“I have a great relationship with Harry. I’m looking forward to working with him in his continuing role as city manager.”

So, to the degree that support for Black equals support for honest government, Patti’s stand is at least on the record. Of course, candidates should be judged by other metrics. These, too, must be weighed. There’s plenty of time as candidates enter the long slog toward the general election. 

Coming soon: Council races.

Michael Fitzgerald’s column runs on Wednesdays. On Twitter and Instagram as Stocktonopolis. Email: mfitzgeraldstockton@gmail.com.