october progress 2013

Special Election Edition

October 2013

Vol. 34 Issue 10

ModChamber.org

Two groups very important to the Modesto Chamber of Commerce are the Welcome Team and the Chamber Ambassadors. Both groups offer a unique opportunity to interact with new and existing members of the Chamber, and both provide the chance to introduce your business or company to a new population of potential clients that you may not have had access to otherwise. The Modesto Chamber is currently accepting applications for anyone interested in joining the Ambassador group. The Ambassadors meet the fourth Wednesday of the month at 8:00 a.m. at the Chamber office. Any and all interested members are invited to attend! If you would like to find out more, please go to the Ambassador page on the Chamber’s newly redesigned website: ModChamber.org. You will find the Ambassador page under “The Chamber” tab and clicking on “Committees.” P

Welcome Corner

PROGRESS MAGAZINE1114 J Street • Modesto, CA 95354(209) 577-5757 • (209) 571-6480 • Fax (209) 577-2673www.ModChamber.org • [email protected]

Everything! Find the events thatkeep our area hopping at mydesto.com

A:Q: What’s happeningin Modesto today?

Mission StatementTo promote the region’s economic strengths and vitality; identify and promote services that are valuable to our members; advocate for public policy that is advantageous to the business community; and fully participate and partner in activities to improve quality of life.

Executive Committee ChairmanRalph Curtis, Curtis Legal Group

Chairman-ElectDavid Gianelli, Gianelli & Associates

Past ChairmanKathy Halsey, Individual Member

Vice Chairman, Internal OperationsPatricia Gillum, Patricia Gillum, CPA

Vice Chairman, External OperationsCraig Lewis, Prudential California Realty

Vice Chairman, Member RelationsBill Moreno, Fire2Wire

Vice Chairman, Events & Special ProjectsLaura Ward, Ward Promotional Marketing Solutions

DirectorsPamela Cullors, Sysco Food Services of Central California Dan Garcia, Tri Counties BankDavid Halvorson, American Chevrolet Brad Hawn, CHGDoug Johnson, Reach Business SolutionsWarren Kirk, Doctors Medical CenterSteve Madison, STANCOMichael Moradian Jr., Peace of Mind Pest Control Inc.Ron Owen, Bank of the WestChris Ricci, Chris Ricci Presents, Inc.Jim Ridenour, Individual MemberEric Tobias, F&M BankRuben Villalobos, The Villalobos Legal GroupJeremiah Williams, Oak Crafts by JeremiahAmy Wolfe, AgSafe

Ex-OfficioKeith Boggs, Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office George Boodrookas, Modesto Junior CollegeDavid Boring, Never BoringGreg Nyhoff, City of Modesto

Cecil Russell, President/CEOModesto Chamber of [email protected]

Publisher: Modesto Chamber of Commerce(209) 577-5757 • [email protected]

Graphic Design: Never Boring (209) 526-9136 • www.neverboring.com

Printer: Parks Printing(209) 576-2568 • [email protected]

Distribution: Parks Printing(209) 576-2568

Advertising Sales: Kristin BowkerNever Boring(209) 526-9136 • [email protected]

© Copyright 2013 Modesto Chamber of Commerce. Some parts of this magazine may be reproduced or reprinted, however, we require that permission be obtained in writing. (209) 577-5757, [email protected]

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OCTOBER 3

CONTENTS OCTOBER 2013

LEADERSHIP

4 Message from the CEO

COVER STORY

6 Meet the Candidates

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

26 Awards and Achievements

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

29 Land of Opportunity

NETWORKING & REFERRALS

23 Business Before and After Hours24 Ribbon Cuttings

34 Calendar

28 STANISLAUS GREEN TEAM

EDITORIAL

5 State of the Region22 State of Education

LEADERSHIP

MESSAGE FROM THE CEOBy Chamber CEO Cecil Russell

This special edition of Progress focuses on the upcoming election. We in Modesto will be voting and choosing three City Council members who wil l be responsible for guiding our city for the next four years. We will also be electing Modesto City Schools Board members, both four-year and two-year terms. The people running for our second largest school board, Sylvan School Board, are running unopposed. Last but not least, three district races for Modesto

Irrigation District will also be decided in this election cycle.

Voting is one of the greatest privileges and also one of the greatest responsibilities that we have in this country. It is something that puts us on equal ground because it doesn’t matter how much money you make, what you do for a living or your race or gender, we all have the opportunity to vote. Voting gives us a chance to choose the leaders that we want running our city, our school districts and our utility district. Voting gives us a voice in what taxes we pay and how the money should be spent, and in the case of Modesto Irrigation District, what we do with our water and how much we will pay for it and our electricity.

The fall political campaigns are in full swing and absentee ballots are in the mail. For months, your Chamber has been busy studying issues, interviewing candidates and analyzing positions. In the following pages you will see the product of that effort. With permission from the candidates, we have reprinted their answers to questions the Chamber felt were important to ask. We are publishing this information in Progress Magazine and on the Chamber’s website to help you evaluate our local candidates so that you may cast your vote for the most qualif ied, business-friendly candidate of your choice.

The Chamber’s focus is on building our economy and creating jobs, and we need our elected off icials to have this focus. The choices that you make on November 5th will have a profound impact on our community for the next four to eight years and beyond. Our economy, schools, education, future workforce and the ability to retain and attract more business are vital to our future and depend on your vote in this election.

In these challenging economic times, it is imperative that we elect f iscally responsible, pro-business men and women to these off ices. We need individuals with keen minds and innovative approaches who will devote their time and talent to serving our community. Voters, and especially those in the business community, should support candidates that have strong character, f irm commitment, are truly competent and possess the real courage necessary to get the job done.

In January, the Modesto Chamber will begin to publish elected off icials’ voting records. Each quarter the Chamber will identify the most impactful decisions that were put to a vote by the City Council, School Boards and MID Board and report how each representative voted. In doing so, Chamber members and the general public will be able to see clearly which of our leaders are the most supportive of business, our economy and make f iscally sound decisions. It is our hope that this additional level of accountability will insure that our elected decision makers always keep the Chamber priorities of economic development, job creation and the future success of our area top of mind.

Modesto also has an important ballot measure on which to vote. The Mayor proposed, and the City Council voted, to put measure X on the ballot. This measure increases the sales tax in Modesto a full percent; from 7.625% to 8.625%. This tax will raise approximately $26 million dollars per year and will be in effect for six years. This is a general tax that requires only a simple majority vote of 51% to pass. As a general tax, the revenue generated cannot be specifically designated for a particular use, but the city would like to allocate 50% ($12 million) to fund additional public safety (fire/police), 25% ($6 million) for road improvements, 15% ($3.6 million) for economic development/parks/trees and 10% ($2.4 million) for reserves. There is no guarantee that the funds will be spent as described, but the Mayor and City Council have resolved to use the revenue as stated above. This is a large measure that if passed will raise over $156 million.

As I mentioned, on the following pages of this issue you will find responses from the candidates of the MID, Modesto City Council and Modesto City Schools Board of Director races. The answers to the six questions the Chamber felt were most important to each seat are listed, exactly as submitted by the candidates. Please use this information to gain more familiarity to each of the candidates and their platforms. The Candidates’ answers to all the questions asked for each race can be found on the Chamber’s website at ModChamber.org. Do your homework, study the issues and vote the way you believe will be most beneficial to the City of Modesto in the near and long-term future. It is your privilege and your right. P

Although the October 1st deadline has passed, many issues and questions are still unanswered. As business leaders, how do we navigate this complicated new and ever-shifting arena called Healthcare Reform? Mark your calendars for October 30, 2013 and attend the 5th Annual State of the Region Luncheon where keynote speaker Steve Vincent, Director of Individual and Small Group Sales for Anthem Blue Cross, and a panel of our local hospitals’ CEOs will discuss these issues and more.

If you would l ike to submit a quest ion to potentially be answered by the panel, please e-mail [email protected] by Oct. 25th.

The event will include exhibits by a number of our health insurance companies and healthcare providers. The exhibit ing companies wil l be staffed with professionals to answer additional questions that may not be covered during the event, as well as inform you about the services they provide. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, cal l Elizabeth Facanha (209) 577-5757 or e-mail [email protected]. P

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4 Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

City Council Candidates District 2

City Council Candidates District 4

In your own words, describe the role and responsibility of the office you seek.

The City of Modesto must currently use reserve funding to balance its budget. What are your plans to balance the budget and make ongoing city finances more sustainable?

What will be your top priority in office? Describe the measures you will take to address this priority.

Describe ways in which you, as an elected official, would encourage a collaborative and cooperative relationship with other units of local government.

What are your plans for facilitating the creation of new, living wage jobs in our area?

The current Modesto City Council has proposed a $.01 cent sales tax measure which stands to generate $26 million in tax revenue. If the measure passes, how would you allocate the increased revenue?

Did not participate. Did not participate. Did not participate. Did not participate. Did not participate. Did not participate.

Jon Rodriguez26 years old.Resident of

Modesto for 26 years. Family

farmer.

Tony Madrigal

39 years old.Resident of

Modesto for 21 years. Substitute

teacher.

Juan Telles

A city councilman’s job is to be a legislator for his or her city. He or she must help implement policy with other members of the council and the mayor in the form of ordinances and resolutions. The second part of a councilman’s job is to be the link between citizens and their municipality (city), and act as a link to help enable a community to assist itself and provide vital projects and services that are needed.

The role is to govern the City of Modesto as a member of the City Council. The responsibility is to help maintain a balanced City budget, address community priority needs such as neighborhood safey & infrastructure improvement, collaborate with appropriate local/educational/state/federal government & non-profit agencies, work with the business community to address needs in our local economy, support economic development, and create an environment that supports job-creation, job-growth by local businesses and entrepreneurs, protect & support local agriculture, partner with our local education system to help increase our local high school graduation rate to ensure we have a well-educated workforce, and to help revitalize downtown Modesto.

To help implement policies that will promote and allow sustainability when it comes to our funds and services. Modesto should only spend what it has. We can only provide the services that we can afford to pay for.

Support diversification of our local economy, spur economic development, and help attract local new employers like Central Valley Specialty Hospital (212 jobs) to grow Modesto’s tax base, help control City spending, and support increasing the City’s reserves.

My top priority will be to participate in legislation that will encourage and promote economically stimulating projects that will help create business and jobs.

Community Safety to support economic development. Support legislation that facilitates business entry into Modesto, increase public safety to create a safe/secure environment for businesses wanting to locate in Modesto or Stanislaus County. More specifically, I’d like to work to attract a university (UOP, UC Merced, or CSU Stanislaus) satellite campus downtown, establish a downtown host program to walk a downtown beat (wearing Modesto PD walkies), and beautify downtown Modesto to attract families/visitors.

As a serious candidate who wishes to do good for all residents of the city, I will always have an open door policy. No units of local government, service clubs or other organizations will ever be ignored. As someone with a degree in Human Behavioral and Social Sciences, the biggest concept I learned was that making communities and societies better can only and will only work through collaboration.

Share information and meet regularly with local elected leaders to identify opportunities for collaboration.

My plan is to sit down with the leading business organizations, as well as city and county government to discuss it. However, never forgetting to invite the citizens of all six districts to talk and proposition new ideas.

As stated in Question #3: Community Safety to support economic development. Support legislation that facilitates business entry into Modesto, increase public safety to create a safe/secure environment for businesses wanting to locate in Modesto or Stanislaus County. More specifically, I’d like to work to attract a university (UOP, UC Merced, or CSU Stanislaus) satellite campus downtown, establish a downtown host program to walk a downtown beat (wearing Modesto PD walkies), and beautify downtown Modesto to attract families/visitors. In addition, encourage employers to engage in local hiring practices and provide a livable wage to workers in our area to help reduce employee turnover.

If Measure X should pass, my biggest effort will be to make sure the money is spent on absolute necessities. In a time of great need, I will not agree with more money going to pensions or salaries. It is a privilege to lead, and those of us who wish to lead must do so by example.

I will stand up to make sure the Council keeps its promise to the voters to allocate at least 50% of this new funding on public safety to help restore our police/fire services we’ve sacrificed in recent years. In addition, I think we should direct the remaining revenues on spurring economic development, business recruitment/retention, increasing City budget reserves, and recover basic City services that have been reduced or eliminated in recent years.

Rickey McGill

63 years old. Resident of

Modesto for 63 years. Retired educational

administrator.

My primary role and responsibility should I be elected to the Modesto City Council would be to remain abreast of the issues in order to best serve the citizens of Modesto, while remaining accessible to all constituents in representing their concerns. As defined, “the Modesto City Council is the City’s legislative body. It sets policies, approves budgets, determines tax rates and passes ordinances and resolutions to govern the City. The Council also appoints citizen volunteers to more than twenty-six City advisory boards, committees and commissions; and appoints and supervises the performances of the City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk.”

If the voters vote to approve the $.01 cent sales tax, I would request that the Council pass an ordinance to select an oversight advisory committee to ensure that the budget is balanced. In the event that the voters turn down the $.01 cent sales tax, I would recommend that the Council allocate a large portion of the revenue to police and fire, with the remainder going to other City services and 15% or more remain in the general fund reserve.

I would bring more business and quality jobs to our area while maintaining and improving public safety services as my main priority. In order to accomplish bringing more jobs to the Modesto area, I would recommend that the City Council collaborate with the Modesto Chamber of Commerce in order to create a mutual marketing strategy partnership. In regard to public safety services, they can be maintained and improved by investing in neighborhood watch/empowerment programs and neighborhood beautification programs, while maximizing community capacity building by collaborating with Modesto City Police, other government agencies, non-profits and faith-based organizations.

If elected, I will continue to attend the meetings of the Modesto Board of Supervisors, Stanislaus Council of Governments, MID, Modesto City School Board, etc. I would inform other City Council members of the mutual issues and concerns of the local government agencies. In addition, I would make suggestions to the Council that these local government agencies send a representative to executive board meetings where they can discuss local government issues. In addition, I would be open to serving on different local committees.

I would embrace the Chamber’s initiative to promote economic prosperity because Modesto needs a healthy private sector that offers a wide range of jobs that will keep and draw people of all ages, including gainful employment and wages for military veterans and citizens with disabilities.

I would propose an ordinance to other Council members to allocate most of the revenue generated from the $.01 cent sales tax to police and fire services and job creation. The remaining revenue would go to other departments/programs, with 15% or more allocated to the general fund reserve.

6 Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS OCTOBER 7

Bill Zoslocki


Modesto for 30 years. Business

owner and Independent

broker.

As a member of the City Council, it would be my responsibility to ensure that Modesto is governed in a fiscally responsible and prudent manner. As a representative of the citizens of District 4, the issues that matter most are crime/gangs, homelessness and unemployment. As the council, we are the stewards of our unique Modesto way of life, and must be vigilant to ensure that any growth that occurs stays consistent with the character of our City.

We only have to look to our neighbor to the north to see how not to manage our finances. As a city, we must not go back to business as usual. We must foster new jobs that do not rise and fall with the wild economic swings we have seen in the past to provide new sources of revenue. The Chamber’s “Pathway to Job Growth” is an outstanding example of many business owners and business representatives coming together seeking to address our long-term unemployment and create economic prosperity for all of its citizens. I think this plan should be reviewed in Modesto’s general plan. My goal in the future is to expand our taxpayer base, not our taxes. Facilitate adequate infrastructure for the movement of goods in and out of the region. Enhance our agricultural economy and diversify our business economy so we can better compete in the growing world economy.

More Jobs for Modesto: We must diversify our economy in order to create more family sustaining jobs for our citizens. Safer Streets and Neighborhoods: Work with our police department to ensure they have the tools and resources needed to battle gangs and criminals who prey on our citizens and neighborhoods. Fixing our City’s Budget: We must not go back to business as usual. We need to foster more taxpayers in jobs that do not rise and fall on economic whims, as to give Modesto a solid, sustainable tax base. If elected, I want to bring my experiences as a business owner to the council. As a council member, I will insist that we “live within our means.” I will work for an annually reviewed 5-year forecasting and budgeting to insure the council operates fiscally. This differs from past methods in that future budgets will be tested to forecast revenues.

There could be some cost savings in areas of equipment maintenance, document duplication services, temporary employees and other cross-governmental services. As a city council member, I will seek to meet with our local government, including the Board of Supervisors, Police Department and other units, in order to establish an open line of communication that will lead to collaborative efforts on both our parts in regards to the issues that affect Modesto and our surrounding communities.

As mentioned above, I will work to diversify our economy. By recruiting “new technology” jobs as well as expanding our local agricultural economy, we can create new, good paying jobs that will cut across all sections of our Modesto workforce.

Currently, the City is establishing spending objectives, as proposed at this writing they are:

Public Safety 50% Reserves 10% Roads 25% Economic Development Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Up to 15%

However, this tax is nonbinding, but it is the intention of the current council and I will support their position and their desire that future councils support these same objectives.

City Council Candidates District 5 *Incumbent

Stephanie Burnside*

41 years old.Resident of Modesto for

over 10 years. Business owner, Councilwoman.

The Modesto City Council provides leadership for the City and is charged with dutifully representing its residents. When I was first appointed to represent the 5th district on the Modesto City Council in 2010, and again when I was elected in 2011, I carried with me two guiding principles that still remain today: fiscal responsibility and forward thinking. As a council member, it is and has been my responsibility not to shy away from the tough decisions that face our community. I am, instead, to be an independent voice for the people of Modesto and help guide the City with my fellow council members in ways that ensure long-term prosperity and thriving neighborhoods, schools and businesses.

Revenues to the City of Modesto’s general fund dropped sharply because of the recession. Only recently have revenues began to stabilize and improve slightly; but it’s still not enough. Our response to the multi-million dollar structural deficit our City faces should not be entirely dependent upon one-off revenue sources drawn from increased taxes on residents; an infusion of cash will not outright solve Modesto’s fiscal problems. If voters approve a temporary tax increase in November, like the general sales tax increase measure, for example, we must be diligent and strategic with how every dollar is used through a transparent budget process.

My number one priority has been to get Modesto back on track. We are close. As a small business owner in Modesto, I understand the unique and beneficial relationship that businesses have with our community. I will work tirelessly to reignite that partnership between residents of Modesto and our local community businesses. A flourishing, business-friendly city with a rich heritage like Modesto will attract new jobs and bring lasting growth to our local economy and prosperity to its residents.

Our strength as a local government comes from our ability to maintain close relationships with the community around us. I’ve seen this firsthand as a small business owner, as an active community member and as a member of the City Council. By being active and involved at all levels, we stay in tune with our City’s needs. I have said all along that I do not profess to know all the answers, but I recognize that working with the community and our other units of government to understand the facts, and then follow them wherever they lead, is necessary for any successful collaborative and cooperative relationship.

I want all Modesto residents to have the opportunity to work for a fair wage. The best, sustainable engine to advance that is a healthy and vibrant business climate—one where businesses and communities partner together and invest in each other; where industry and residents are teeming with activity. I am working alongside my colleagues to get Modesto’s fiscal house in order. A solvent budget and structurally sound expense sheet lays the foundation for local economic growth by freeing up businesses and residents from the pressure of paying higher taxes. Those freed up resources are then left to the community, where they are shared and allocated in ways no city government could imagine.

If the measure does in fact pass, it is imperative to recognize that our obligation as elected representatives to be good, fiscally responsible stewards of taxpayer money is not lessened. It is necessary to maintain rigid oversight over general sales tax revenue, as is the case with all public funds; every dollar spent must be scrutinized and justified. I believe that the primary role of city government is public safety, a value which is reflected in the City’s proposed allocation of the new revenue: half for public safety, a quarter for roads, a tenth returned to our City reserves, and the remainder to parks and recreation and economic development.

JennyKenoyer


Modesto for 73 years. Retired

nurse.

To provide the most effective city government to the taxpayers.

Working with the finance staff to check to see that all departments are working within their budgets.

Revitalization of downtown by providing a day drop-in center for the homeless. With the homeless having a place to go during the day, it will make the downtown more attractive for foot traffic.

We already have collaboration with Stan COG. I will attend other official meetings such as MID and Stanislaus Board of Supervisors meetings.

We need to reach out to our agriculture industry since that is what our economic base is. Possibly we could get a University to put an extension in Modesto to do research and education pertaining to agriculture.

It has already been determined that 1/2 of the $.01 would go to safety. I would have to work with the staff to see what their recommendations are.

Ryan Schambers20 years old. Resident of

Modesto for 16 years. Security

guard.

Fiscal responsibility, business-friendly measures.

Cut pay increases, upgrade parks less often.

Encouraging businesses to move to Modesto.

I would visit and talk to other institutions. Job-creating programs and business subsidies. To business growth, police, fire, roads and parks.

Did not participate. Did not participate. Did not participate. Did not participate. Did not participate. Did not participate.Juan Melgoza


Modesto Irrigation District Candidates Division 2

In your words, describe the role and responsibility of the office you seek.

Is the organization for which you seek office operating with a balanced budget? If not, what are your plans to make the organization more financially sustainable?

What will be your top priority as an MID Director? Describe the measures you will take to address this priority.

Describe the ways in which you as an elected official would encourage a collaborative and cooperative relationship with other units of local government and community leadership.

Do you believe the utility rates currently charged by MID are appropriately priced? Why or why not?

What are your plans for facilitating the creation of new, living wage jobs in our area?

JohnMensinger59 years old. Resident of

Modesto for 53 years. President of

a local business.

The Modesto Irrigation District (MID) provides water and electricity to Modesto. This must be done as reliably and as efficiently as possible. Cheap and plentiful water and electricity helped Modesto and Stanislaus County become world class in farming and food processing. These industries are the backbone and foundation of our economy. There is more competition in California now for electricity and water. MID’s electric rates, though reasonable, are no longer cheap. Our water is threatened by state and federal regulators that would like to take it, without compensating us, to help the environment. The MID Board needs to do a better job than it has in the last few years. My role will be to assure the reliable and efficient supply of water and electricity. I will encourage the MID to be open and communicative with the public so we can make the best possible decisions. I will encourage teamwork and partnerships to protect our water and electricity.

Public organizations like the MID have made pension and retirement healthcare promises to their employees. These are a liability, and it can be difficult to compute the final cost of these promises. People are living longer, healthcare gets better and more expensive each year and the income from pension funds varies, there is no guarantee of positive results. Once elected to the Board, I will make it a priority to understand the financial situation and explain it to the public. The MID is a monopoly supplier of water and power to most of its customers. Budgets can be balanced with rate increases, which reduce the spending power of local residents and harm the ability of our farmers and businesses to compete. My goal will be to encourage efficient and cost effective operation of the MID without compromising reliability of water and power supplies.

Carefully analyze situations and problems and make the best decisions possible. Act in an open, friendly and honest way with the public and MID employees. Encourage communication, teamwork and positive thinking. I have spent my life analyzing data and making decisions. I will ask that MID management properly analyzes and presents information to the Board and public so all can contribute to the best possible final decision. For example, the Board a few months ago agreed to sell 7,000 acre feet of water to the Turlock Irrigation District. It was probably a reasonable decision, but there was not a detailed calculation as to what this would mean to the water carryover in Don Pedro under various possible conditions next year. This analysis should have been completed before any water sale was considered.

I would be friendly, honest and open, and encourage the MID to be this way with the community and local government. I would regularly communicate with local government and community leaders. I would be accessible to anyone wanting to talk about the MID or how it could work to better our community. The above was not true during the proposed sale of water to San Francisco. Details of the proposal were intentionally hidden from the community. The terms of the sale as presented by MID management were unacceptable and outrageous. These terms would never have been considered if the proposed contract had been worked out in collaboration with local government and community leadership.

This is a complicated issue. It appears that electricity users are subsidizing water users. Electricity rates are probably too high and water rates too low. The MID Board made a policy decision to raise water rates by 10% a year. This policy was not implemented this year, when the Board could not agree—some wanted an increase more than 10%, others wanted less. Nothing was done. The committee studying the MID water system recommended a water rate increase greater than 10%. I am in favor of water rate increases of 10% or more per year until water users are paying the MID’s full cost of providing water. There is a possibility that revenue to the water-side could be provided by charging the City of Modesto for storm water drainage or by selling small quantities of water outside the District. This issue requires honest and careful analysis. It is a matter of math and requires answering questions such as who should benefit from Don Pedro electricity revenue.

The MID helped create our local economy by supplying water for irrigation. Cheap hydropower gave local businesses an advantage when competing with others outside our region. Reliable and affordable water and power are important to any modern economy. California, whether we like it or not, is in the forefront of requiring “green” power generation, ways of conserving power and ways of minimizing water use. The MID can help local residents, businesses and farms with these issues. A well run MID will help create new living wage jobs in Modesto and the region.

An MID Director monitors MID activities, especially as regards rates and expenses. As the public representative of a district within the MID, the Director’s first duty is vigilance, followed closely by clear communication with his constituents. All expenses, rate increases, district expansions, etc., must be fully justifiable and explained as they are planned, not after they’ve happened.

Given the previous administration, we need to perform a full review of MID accounting practices so that we can start with a clean accounting slate. I am not certain the MID is operating with a balanced budget because I don’t trust previous public communication. I think we have begun to turn the MID around, but the new Directors will need help or we will revert to the old ways of doing business and keeping the public in the dark. We will not spend an estimated $500,000 to convince voters that they should approve the water sale to the city of San Francisco. We will look for more economical ways to deliver our water and electricity to those who really own the MID, the ratepayers.

My top priority is simple: Keep our water here. We need the water for our city residents, we need the water for our farm economy and we need the water in our own three great rivers. I do not believe in selling water. Keep our water here. It is essential to the survival of our economy and our way of life.

The key now and always has been transparency. When the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing, the public always loses. We will always be able to collaborate with other agencies as long as the agendas of all parties are open and public.

Utility rates have to be reviewed. There has been too much secrecy and not enough transparency about how the rates are set. Everyone has his own story, but so far no one has taken a close enough look at the books, in part because former GM Allen Short preferred a hidden agenda. A new MID board, not tied to the past, can look at our problems with fresh eyes and look for solutions.

First, we have to protect the jobs we have. That means keeping our water here. As long as we have water, the jobs will come to us, especially those involving high-volume water use. Everything in our region is dependent on keeping the water here. You are free to ask this question of all candidates. However, the question for the Modesto Chamber of Commerce is what have you done, what are you doing and what do you plan to do in the future to better our economy?

Carmen Sabatino


Modesto for 58 years. Retired businessman/ restaurateur.


Paul Campbell

50 years old. Modesto Resident

for 13 years.Business owner.

Les Johnson80 years old.

Modesto Resident for 15 years.

Retired banker.

Ted Donham


Modesto for 55 years. Retired utility district professional.

As an elected Director of the Modesto Irrigation District (MID), it would be my responsibility to set policy for the MID in conjunction with my fellow directors to ensure that our policies are in accordance with the stated mission and vision of the district. In addition, we need to ensure that the actions of the district implement the mission, vision and policies set by the Board of Directors. We also need to review and assess whether the staff members hired by the Board and those hired by the General Manager, are implementing these effectively. Obviously, it is assumed that the Board will provide oversight and questioning of the matters before it to aid in the proper functioning of the district. As a Director gains experience, I also believe he or she is in a position to champion key improvements in the operations or strategic planning of the District.

As a director for the Modesto Irrigation District, I would do the upmost to work with the other directors and provide decisions necessary to enhance the continued operation of the district.

The role and responsibility of a Board Member at The Modesto Irrigation District must be to serve and represent their Division. They must first listen, stay engaged, be open, honest and find ways to lower rates.

I believe this is subjective of how they view operating costs and revenues on an annual basis. One of my first tasks, if I am fortunate enough to be elected, would be to fully understand the current financial position of the district and how the budget is balanced. This would then let me make an assessment as to whether the MID is in a financially sustainable position, whether the District is relying on ever-increasing rates and the effect on ratepayers. I will work with my fellow Board members to plan for the District’s future through this review of its financial position in relation to all of the District’s obligations presented in a transparent manner to ratepayers and the public. I trust that the Board will establish financial policies that preserve or enhance the District’s mission and vision as we seek fiscal stability.

According to information available, it would appear the district is working within their budget. However, all avenues of economy should be explored.

The MID in my opinion does not operate with a balanced budget. Previous board decisions have led to massive debt that must be addressed. There is opportunity to combine services already in place that could save every participant.

Since our historic water rights are currently under attack, my top priority will be to protect our historic water rights, especially in the Don Pedro relicensing process. This is critical to the future of all aspects of our local economy. My second top priority will be to explore all avenues to keep electric rates low. We cannot simply pass on ever-increasing rates to our families and businesses.

Provide leadership to the Board of Directors. I am available as a full-time director.

There is the challenge of protecting our water rights, while relicensing of the Don Pedro dam. While the largest problem is still the huge debt that has accumulated in the last two decades.

I would talk with all key stakeholders as I am a bit surprised at the deteriorated relationship between the District and other key local governments and community leadership. Firstly and of greatest value would be to establish our mutual goals and objectives. For example, the MID and the City have a significant overlap in our customers, and as such it’s in our best interest to work together in serving towards satisfactory outcomes. It is the same with community leadership such as the Chamber, the Manufacturers’ Council, the Farm Bureau and many others. We need to talk and plan together to ensure we are moving in the same direction and see to it that our efforts are complimentary as much as possible. Mutual respect and goodwill go a long way in establishing good working relationships and we can make very positive impacts on our local economy if we are smart and purposeful in our work.

Become acquainted with all local government and community representatives and provide any assistance the district may offer.

Opportunities to combine services with the city of Modesto, Stanislaus County and the Turlock Irrigation District must be discussed and investigated.

I am not sure if they are appropriate or not as I was not part of the decision-making made over the past several years to get to where we are today. However, I believe that we must be able to justify the rates as being consistent with the mission and vision of the district and will be asking questions to determine if the district has been mindful of this obligation in the decisions made getting us where we are today. As I noted [previously], my second top priority is low electrical rates.

Consideration should be given to the present rate structure. Irrigation rates and charges need to be explored; power rates need to be examined for possible reduction.

NO. The rate structure reflects company mistakes and direction. The rates have grown nearly 100% in the last ten years, too fast. In fact, if more attention is focused on debt reduction, I feel rate cuts could soon be realized.

The best way for anyone to create jobs is to invite industry to move to our area and we must know that what attracts business is a reputation for being the easiest place in California to do business. We need to encourage the City and County to make Modesto and Stanislaus County the best place to do business by creating incentives that attract business. Streamlined and inexpensive planning and permitting for example, advertise it in business publications and seek opportunity to talk about it with Forbes and other business outlets who rank us. Get the schools involved and let the kids know what we are doing and how they can help us by staying in school and graduating, talk about it quarterly during their rallies and get them invested in the goal. We can ask our teachers and mentors to identify exceptional students who are budding entrepreneurs and get our local successful businesses involved in providing outlets for them to pursue the next big thing.

Wages have historically been low in this valley. There is no quick fix, we will have to do all possible to provide employers benefits to moving to this area.

My focus will be entirely focused on the health of The Modesto Irrigation District and what it brings to our community.



Jim Mortensen66 years old. Resident of

Modesto for 66 years. Retired engineering operating manager.

Ideally, MID Directors should act as a Corporate Board of Directors by setting a governing policy and plotting long-term direction of the institution. Realistically, however, Directors must be willing to wade into the practical and technical aspects of the MID to ensure that ratepayer/constituent interests are being served and protected.

As with any organization that has a public component to it, MID accounting practices differ from private industry. As such, it is possible to function with a balanced budget, while at the same time bonding long-term debt and subsidizing certain customers. This has been a systemic problem at MID and one that I had the opportunity to examine as Chair of the Citizens’ Water Advisory Committee. Our Committee dug deep into past practices, including billing, operations, true cost of delivery and infrastructure. Despite

As a member of the Board of Directors, I will work to:

- Prioritize creating additional local water storage by implementing the strategy outlined in the report by the Citizens’ Water Advisory Committee. - Develop a policy that puts agriculture first when discussing any future sale of water. - Use my 35 years of water and electrical systems management experience to ensure maintenance projects and future growth are planned methodically and their costs are fairly and realistically calculated.

It is imperative that locally elected boards, commissions, councils and governing bodies begin to think more regionally. The Central Valley’s needs are traditionally last served and while there is strong cooperation between our representatives in Sacramento, it has yet to trickle down to a local level.

As an MID Director, I will embrace the ideas and diversity that our community offers. It is vital that civic groups, government and businesses speak in a unified voice when it comes to protecting our resources, water rights and fiscal future.

I believe there is a steep divide in the calculation factors between electricity and irrigation rates. While closing this gap is not insurmountable, it will require some very long-term planning to ensure customers understand not only the history of why their bills are the way they are, but more importantly, the need to take corrective action to ensure a long-term plan for fiscal health.

I believe the MID can play a key role in the creation of living wage jobs by using economic incentives to attract new industry or provide expansion credits for current employers that require reliable and reasonably priced electricity.

As a water and electricity manager for local food processors, I was responsible to ensure our electricity and water needs were met in the most economic manner possible. Given the amount of overhead devoted to utilities, companies could help expand our workforce by partnering with MID to develop creative solutions for lowering their monthly costs.


Jake Wenger

29 years old. Resident of Modesto for 29 years. Vice

President family farming corportion.

Jim Mortensen(continued)

A Modesto Irrigation District board member is responsible for District oversight as it pertains to the management of the MID. My job as a board member is to help guide the MID as to benefit the ratepayers.

The MID is operating on the back of a couple successful years. However, there is still a large portion of unfunded pension that will need to be accounted for. By watching spending more closely, we can protect against some of the costly endeavors that have plagued the district in the past.

In a collaborative effort with other local irrigation districts, the MID can make a greater push in Sacramento to get large-scale hydroelectricity accepted as renewable energy. This will push the MID over the 33% renewable mandate and allow the district to sell excess credits, generating new revenue.

Additionally, the MID needs to look at annexing farm ground to the East into the district. The annexation would bring new revenues to help upgrade MID infrastructure. A deal could mimic OID’s recent annexation of 7,000 acres of almonds. The new irrigators would pay a higher price and only receive water during wet years. This would also help slow the overuse of groundwater in that region.

My first priority is to protect our greatest resource from state and federal agencies who are looking to take MID water. The State Water Resources Control Board is looking at an increased river flow proposal that would require the MID to essentially double the amount of water sent down the Tuolumne River between February and June. This would not only take water away from the district, but that water would not be able to flow through the turbines at New Don Pedro, creating valuable energy during peak demand periods. The MID would be forced to purchase more expensive power to compensate for the lost production, causing rate increases to the electric ratepayers. The MID is also in the beginning stages of the FERC relicensing of Don Pedro reservoir. The current license expires in 2016 and a new license is needed. The resulting process will cost the district around $25 million and will most likely require increased river flows.

The first step is to create a more open dialogue between the Modesto Irrigation District and other units of local government. With a lot of recent turnover in MID leadership, now is an ideal time to change policies to create better access to MID and its meetings. The current board has already agreed to a renovation of the boardroom, which features several new technological upgrades. MID board meetings will now be able to be viewed live online and past meeting videos will be archived on the website. There is also a possibility to have the meetings broadcast live on local cable television. The possibility of changing the times of board meetings also needs to be examined. The current 9:00 a.m. start time makes it difficult for working ratepayers to attend meetings.

The Modesto Irrigation District has historically been able to claim some of the lowest rates in the state. Over the last few years, our electric rates have risen rapidly. Bad investments have come back to haunt the district and we as ratepayers have paid those costs. Investments in Mountain House, TANC, a coal plant in New Mexico, the McHenry solar field, a Ripon water treatment facility and lastly, but certainly not least, the failures with the Modesto Water Treatment Phase II have all been a drain on the district and caused rate increases to overcome the losses. With a little more oversight, costly errors and rate increases can be averted.

As a Director at the Modesto Irrigation District, I would be able to help ease electric rates. This would aid not only residential customers, but business, industrial and agricultural customers, as well as allow the hiring of new workers.

diverse backgrounds, we were unanimous in our suggestions for a long-term strategy to ensure the fiscal health of MID.

Our recommendations to the MID Board were accepted unanimously and included:

- Create short-term and long-term business plans that have measurable goals. Benchmarks are crucial to success. - Reduce/eliminate the subsidy paid by electricity customers for water operations. - Invest in infrastructure to increase water storage.

Modesto City Schools Board Candidate 4-Year Term *Incumbent

In your words, describe the role and responsibility of the office you seek.

Is the organization for which you seek office operating with a balanced budget? If not, what are your plans to make the organization more financially sustainable?

What should be the primary goals and objectives of Modesto City Schools?

What will be your top priority as a Board Member? Describe the measures you will take to address this priority.

What role does Modesto City Schools District play in better preparing our young people for careers after graduation?

What are your plans for facilitating the creation of new, living wage jobs into our area?

David Allan


Modesto for 16 years. Realtor.

Maintaining a fiscally prudent approach in order to maximize student output within the restraints of limited resources.

Yes. To utilize all tools possible to continually improve student performance. We should also promote more parent involvement in order to create an environment of accountability and personal responsibility. Students that have

I think that school safety needs our immediate attention. As a parent of grade school students in the Modesto City Schools, safety is a daily concern of mine. Our children are our most precious assets and should be protected from the dangers of today’s world with at least as

Many students are at risk for dropping out at the point they realize that college is not an option for them. If we only focus on the students that have college as an option, we are doing a huge disservice to our other students and the community as a whole. As a district, we need to continue to support

It all starts with a well-trained and educated work force. I have been disappointed to find out how many local business people are simply not interested in the educational issues that face the valley. I will work to get the business community involved in partnering in our schools and realizing


David Allan

(continued)

Cindy Marks*


Modesto for 32 years. President of California School

Boards Association. Modesto City

Schools Trustee.

The role and responsibilities are to ensure that the Modesto City Schools’ students are prepared with vital skills to succeed whether they chose to attend college or enter the job market immediately. We are to also evaluate and hold the superintendent and staff accountable to that purpose. Another critical responsibility is to oversee the negotiation of the management, classified and certificated union contracts.

Yes, Modesto City Schools is operating on a balanced budget.

parents that are actively involved in their education are always more likely to achieve.

The primary goals and objectives of Modesto City Schools should be to raise student achievement and prepare them for college or career, including the 7,000 English learners, and continue to close the achievement gap between white and non-white students. Another goal will be the implementation of the new Federal Standards called Common Core Standards and the new state allocation of funds from the Local Control Funding Formula through the passage of Proposition 30. The LCFF will make it so local boards will be held to a much higher standard of accountability for the students they serve.

much security as our banks and malls. I will do everything in my power to work together with parents, teachers and local law enforcement to create a safer learning environment for our children. The world has changed and it is a fact that unstable and cowardly people have gone into our schools across the country to kill as many people as possible because our schools are unprotected. This needs to change before, not after there is an incident here.

My top priority is Academic Achievement through school board professional development that incorporates data related decision-making and prioritizes the needs of the students.

the college bound students and prepare all students for upper education. We also need to be able to identify those who are not on track for college and give them options before it is too late. This is very important as drop out rates are so closely related to higher crime and unemployment rates. All students are different and need to be identified for their strengths and weaknesses so we can best serve them in their preparation for life after high school. I mentioned before that the new MPGT Academy that is a huge improvement on vocational programs of the past is a great start. This is a good example of how the business community in collaboration with quality educators can make a big change.

Modesto City Schools prepares students for career through the numerous Smaller Learning Academies such as the Health Academy, Auto Mechanics, Advanced Pathway, Digital Academy, Business Academy, Biotech and Science Academy and Agriculture Academy. Through successful programs such as the Education and Human Development Academy and Industrial Technology and Engineering Academy at Johansen High School, students are prepared to enter careers in education, communications, manufacturing, construction, energy/power and transportation. Expansion of these programs would continue to benefit more students.

their investment, however longterm, is worth it. I will also support smaller class size. It is a fact that the more students in a class, the less each individual student can be reached by their teacher. A poorly educated population leads to higher crime, unemployment and a weak economy, so aggressively doing everything we can now to improve student success is a direct investment in future jobs.

In order to create new living wage jobs in our area, we need to provide a greater educated work force that would attract new businesses and returning graduates. Through programs such as the Linked Learning (also known as College and Career Readiness), schools can connect academics to real world applications by integrating challenging academics with demanding technical curriculum thereby preparing students to succeed in whatever course of study or career they choose. I serve on the statewide Linked Learning Task Force, which evaluates and promotes these practical and effective programs.

Brett McBay


Modesto for 43 years. Business owner, district

representative for state Assembly

member.

The Board is the voice for the community; to properly steer and guide the Modesto City School District on matters pertaining to budgets, policy, salary and curriculum. The needs of the students, the concerns of the parents and the performance of our teachers and administrators are paramount.

No, currently the Modesto City School District is utilizing its reserves to meet its budget obligations. All organizations regardless of size and scope can always find effective, practical ways to reduce overall spending without reducing productivity or limiting the service they provide. The School District must examine every department and budget line and find means to reduce overall cost. This can be accomplished by encouraging productivity, increasing efficiency and eliminating redundancy. The School District like most government entities is an enormous, slow moving ship that must be carefully steered toward fiscal responsibility. Issue one must be the elimination of the current State practice of deferring education dollars in order to supplement the State general fund. If education as stated in Proposition 98 is our priority then those dollars need to make it to the classroom. I will vigorously lobby our State legislature to eliminate education deferrals.

1. Require that every child reads, writes and speaks English before they graduate to ensure that they are ready for college or career.

2. Promote individual, community and local business involvement.

3. Develop programs that address the unacceptable problem of declining male graduation rates.

4. Hold teachers, administrators and parents accountable.

5. Foster Civic responsibility, national pride and character.

6. Operate with fiscal responsibility and sound business practices

My top priority as a Modesto City School Board Member will be addressing the high drop out rates among our male students. Today, graduation rates, college enrollment, Master’s and Doctorate degrees are rapidly slipping among male students. There is a growing disconnect with our students and the societal ramifications are alarming.

I will specifically address this issue by calling on local business to join the current developing mentorship programs offered and expand on this process by creating a path to a career with the educational instruction to support it. We must examine how we are instructing our students and determine how we can re-engage them. I firmly believe that with the backing of the community and local business, a picture of success can be presented to our young men allowing them to see a prosperous and successful life and a means to achieve it.

If I may loosely quote Jim Clifton from his book The Coming Jobs War: “Every school superintendent and university president should not just be focused on making sure their students graduate, but that they graduate with the ability to find a good job.”

The role of the District is none other than to be singularly focused on ensuring that our students graduate and graduate ready to enter the work force. I have seen firsthand as an employer the devastating cycle of poverty that is created when young men and women are doomed to under employment solely because they are not sufficiently equipped to function in a 21st century workplace.

Modesto City Schools must recognize and promote a complete education. Today, the school is the arbiter of skills that traditionally have been imbued by the family structure. Now, the schools bear the burden to not only educate, but to provide for the basic needs of students, council, instill civic responsibility, character and business etiquette.

Job creation is a direct result of a vibrant, growing and capable work force. As a Modesto City School Board Trustee, it will be my primary focus to increase graduation rates. The health of a community is greatly increased by having well-educated citizens. Communities attract more businesses when they have an educated and capable work force. High school drop out rates absolutely must be lowered. Individuals who do not graduate are more likely to be unemployed, receive welfare, perpetrate crimes and end up in jail. I will strongly support all measures to increase graduation rates and prepare our students for college or entry into the work force. My goal is to create a coalition of local businesses specifically targeting and marketing through mentorship and instructional programming the vision to young students that upon graduation there are good available jobs requiring their services.


Michael Scheid


Modesto for 22 years. Defense

attorney.

The Board of Education is responsible for oversight of all aspects of the Modesto City Schools. That is a broad statement, but is true. This oversight includes the budget, general operations, approval and oversight of ongoing construction projects and personnel, including the Superintendent.

Modesto City Schools is operating with a balanced budget this fiscal year.

The primary goals of Modesto City Schools is to prepare our community’s children for college or a career, and at the same time produce a well-educated, productive future work force. We can do this by focusing on solving our drop out problem through an early identification and intervention action plan. We can act early in these children’s lives to reach them and keep them motivated to stay in school until high school graduation. We need to restore some programs for our children that have been cut over the past five years, such as music, art, sports and vocational education. Some of these programs will motivate the “at risk” children to stay in school. In addition, we need to work with the teachers and administration to implement the Common Core State Standards. These are the new curricula that are being developed by the states, not the federal government. As such, each state has considerable leeway in actual implementation.

My top priority as a Board Member will be to direct administration to complete an early drop out identification and intervention plan. If research shows that we can identify at risk children early, and I believe it does, then we can take action early as well. There has been research on this topic, so there is no need to reinvent the wheel. We can take common sense approaches to stop the problem before it becomes too late. When the children are in high school, it’s too late. This type of long-term thinking may take time to bear fruit, but this is exactly the type of leadership and action we need today to make our community a better place in the future.

Please see all my [previous] answers, and in addition, we are in the process for preparing for the Common Core State Standards. Apparently these will mean the teachers will be able to actually teach their students instead of teaching to a test. The curriculum is designed for in depth learning and independent thinking, which is exactly what we want our employees to be doing. This will be a big change over the way schools have operated the past 15 years, with testing, testing and more testing. Certainly, the results remain to be seen, but I am in favor of teaching our children to think for themselves and problem solve when they are in school, because they will definitely have to solve problems when they are working for a living.

A new living wage in this area is definitely possible. We need to improve the economy by improving education, providing transportation routes, making shovel ready projects available for local business parks, and making this a safe community for people to raise their families here. If none of these happen, businesses won’t grow, and they will not come here from the Bay Area. If we provide employers with a well educated and motivated workforce, adequate transportation routes, shovel ready business park locations, and a safe community, local businesses will grow and stay local, and we will attract healthy businesses from elsewhere that pay their employees fair wages. In some instances, local businesses may need protection from the Walmarts of the world that try to undermine efforts to grow local businesses. I would be willing to look at those on a case by case basis, were I making those policies, and if local businesses approached me with those concerns.

Simply put, a school board trustee is a holder of the public trust in three areas. First, is our core mission: to responsibly educate our youth and future workforce. Second, as one of the largest employers in the county, we have a duty both to our employees and to the greater community that they are a part of. Finally, as a holder of the public trust, we have a responsibility to the taxpayer. Over the last 4 years, my every vote has been fiscally responsible, even when voting so wasn’t popular.

We are operating with sound reserves, much greater than required by law. In the four years that I have been on the board (probably the toughest for public education since the Great Depression), we haven’t had to borrow operating funds from the County Office of Education, though we are statutorily able to do so. I’ve ensured that we run a tight ship. My philosophy is clear: if we don’t have it, we can’t spend it. Tomorrow’s children will not be burdened by even a single penny’s worth of credit card debt because of my votes.

See Question #1. Added to that, I would say that career readiness must continue to be a priority of the Board of Education. The Chamber has been a top-notch partner in this regard.

College and career readiness will continue to be my top priority. I will continue to prioritize our programs that achieve those ends.

As a trustee, I want to make sure that every child has the opportunity to go to college. However, we also need to continue to provide vocational education that prepares our students to go straight into the workforce. Our culinary program is a perfect example. A high school graduate from this program leaves our schools with a skill set comparable to graduates of private, expensive culinary academies. We need to continue to explore similar programs.

I don’t see job creation as part of the core mission of a school trustee. For example, if I were to support school construction, I’d create jobs. But that’s not necessarily in the public’s interest. It is the role of the school board, however, to facilitate a vibrant, competent and competitive work force. We do so by partnering with local businesses to develop school-to-career programs.

Ruben Villalobos*40 years old.Resident of

Modesto for 40 years. Attorney.

Sue Zwahlen*59 years old.Resident of

Modesto for 49 years. Registered

ER nurse.

Our role is to implement policies that promote the education and wellbeing of every student in our district. Directing and overseeing our Superintendent and her goals is also a primary role of our board. It is our responsibility to ensure that the budget we approve aligns with the policies and goals that we approve.

Modesto City Schools is operating well within a balanced budget. I plan to serve by promoting policies that spend taxpayer dollars as close to the students as possible.

Our primary goal should be to provide a quality education - unique to each student’s needs - that fulfills the requirements of preparation for their chosen career paths. Every student, regardless of their present situation in life, deserves an education that is of interest to them and will assist them in reaching their personal goals.

My top priority as a board member is to ensure we have safe schools that foster effective student learning. I will continue to promote evidence-based policies that accomplish this goal and will designate funds to support those policies.

Academies and pathways provide opportunities for every student to be prepared for a career after graduation. The rigorous curriculum taught in our schools will better prepare young people to succeed in their future lives. We provide a wide variety of programs that support each student’s interests and goals.

The opportunities for people to create new jobs in our area are endless. I would like to see local agencies and businesses provide greater support for and mentor anyone who wants to start a new business. This would have been helpful to our family when we started our business.

Jordan Dickson

23 years old. Resident of Modesto for

23 years. Brand Marketer.

The objective of the Modesto City Schools Board of Education should always be to provide the best quality educational opportunities to all Modesto students to ensure preparedness for the post-graduation workforce. To make this a reality, the Board’s role is to serve as a policy-forming branch of our school district that is

Modesto City Schools does currently operate with a balanced budget. There is also a relatively healthy reserve fund that is protected for use in the event of a financial setback. This has been accomplished by setting a firm line that the district will only spend what it can afford to pay. While this may not always be the most popular course of action, it is one I support to ensure continual

At E. & J. Gallo Winery, we operate with an OGSM structure. If we prescribe this method to Modesto City Schools, our objective should be to provide the best quality educational opportunities to all Modesto students to ensure preparedness for the post-graduation workforce. As we drill down from that objective, I believe there are two primary goals for MCS. First, we should be equipping our

My top priority as a Board Member is appropriately allocating funds, resources and staffing needs to reduce class sizes to a reasonable level. We are entering an era in which we are asking our schools to prepare students for real-world competency. This real-world skillset simply cannot be achieved if we aren’t giving teachers the opportunity to help students achieve success in individualized ways. From kindergarten through high school, we

The district has two primary responsibilities in this regard. First, we need to provide advocacy, funding, technology and training to support Common Core curriculum. Common Core is entirely about critical thinking, problem solving and cross-subject competency in math and English. All of this is meant to prepare students for real-world jobs. It does a child little benefit to memorize a fact about the War of 1812. But it is valuable to be able to analyze the cause

My plan to promote new, living wage jobs in Modesto is focused on providing high-quality candidates for those jobs. I am a strong advocate for vocational academies in our high schools and community partnerships between our students and local businesses. The Common Core Curriculum, which has been newly implemented in our District, is all about preparing our students for real world competency. As an advocate for that

Modesto City Schools Board Candidate 2-Year Term


Fabiola Garcia

Jordan Dickson

(continued)

Did not participate.

responsible for budgeting, allocation, oversight and general strategic management. Within these constrictions, the Board is accountable for salary schedules, curricula determination, capital investment for the district and its school sites, and through it all, ensuring a high-level of public transparency to teachers, parents, students and other members of our community.

At the end of the day, the School Board’s primary role and responsibility is to serve the children of our community. With this as a guiding principle, the School Board, in conjunction with teachers, staff, parents and local business leaders, can make success for every student a reality.


fiscal health for our school district. I do advocate for more advanced forecasting infrastructure so that we can plan for five and ten years down the road and not be stuck in a completely reactionary situation. Over the next couple of years, the Board will need to work hard to ensure appropriate allocation of additional Prop 30 funding and the funding that will come under district control with the Locally Controlled Funding Formula. We are in a good place financially as a district, but will need to continue our efforts to ensure future prosperity.


students with real-world applicable skills. This could take strategic form in both critical thinking and problem solving based curriculum, like Common Core, and in strong vocational programs. Second, we should strive to provide teachers, staff and especially students with the resources needed in order for students to reach basic levels of competency. This will come to fruition through appropriate allocation, within the Locally Controlled Funding system, for 21st century classroom necessities, class size reduction efforts and security assurances to provide a safe place for our students to learn.


are asking our teachers to provide more specialized, individual consideration to ensure competency in critical thinking and problem solving. That cannot happen if our teachers aren’t energized about having a manageable number of students. If our ultimate objective remains providing the best quality educational opportunities to all Modesto students to ensure preparedness for the post-graduation workforce, then we need to empower our teachers to make that happen.


and effect of the War of 1812. Analyzing, critical thinking and problem solving can be beneficial in almost any career and in life in general. Secondly, the district needs to provide high-quality vocational programs and academies to prepare students for direct entrance into the workforce. College is not for everyone and that’s okay. We need to ensure that students who want to work straight out of high school have that opportunity by providing them with the skills and connections necessary to make the transition.


system, I will work closely with our other community leaders to provide Modesto businesses, new and old, with the highest quality candidates for employment. The best way to cultivate the job market in Modesto is to ensure that our businesses have a reason to come to Modesto in the first place and then providing them with a skilled and prepared workforce of local individuals to make that business thrive.

Charlie Grom

50 Years old. Resident of

Modesto for 50 years. Local law

enforcement lieutenant.

My role is to assist the district staff in developing policy that is in line with California law, yet respectful of the desires of parents whose children attend Modesto City Schools. As a board member, it is my responsibility to be fiscally responsible with taxpayer money and accountable to parents, staff and employees.

Modesto City Schools is operating within a balanced budget despite the effects of the current recession and at the determent of its reserves. I would like to examine how the district could reevaluate its current long-term bond obligations and liabilities.

To create a safer environment for students that will enable them to learn and be successful. I also believe the district will need to invest in infrastructure (technological and resources) given the shift to Common Core Standards for learning and testing.

My top priority will be to encourage parents to become more involved in their child’s educational development. As a Board Member, I would like to personally engage with local business to find creative ways for their employees with children in the Modesto City Schools system to have flexible options to participate in their child’s educational process. Children benefit when they see parents and other adults fully committed to their education.

We need to ensure the proper amount of emphasis on preparation for higher education, as well as vocational education. Our schools should be focused on meeting the needs of the local workforce by developing partnerships and openly communicating with those businesses whose future employees will be graduating from Modesto City Schools. This not only includes the need to prepare students for college, but also those who are vital for trade occupations.

The answer to this question is directly linked to the educational system and the need to create a strong and sustainable workforce. If our children are not graduating with the necessary, employable skills, we will continue down the path of employment stagnation. This goes back to partnering with local business and industry to determine their employment needs for the future.

Dean Smeltzer

Did not participate. Did not participate. Did not participate. Did not participate. Did not participate. Did not participate.



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Business After Hours hosted by: Mitchell’s Modesto Harley-Davidson

TSM Insurance & Financial Services (209) 524-6366 • www.tsminsurance.com 1701 Coffee Road, Suite 2, Modesto, CA 95355

TSM Insurance has set the standard for customer care in the areas of personal home and auto insurance, all areas of business liability insurance and individual, family and group health insurance for decades. With all of the industry changes related to Medicare Health Plans, partners Randy Clark, Tony Miligi and Guy Miligi continued their commitment to excellence and to our community with the addition of the 65PLUS Senior Solutions Division.

Mitchell’s Modesto Harley-Davidson (209) 522-1061 www.mitchellsmodestohd.com500 N. Carpenter Road, Modesto, CA 95351

Mitchell’s Modesto Harley-Davidson® is celebrating 25 years in business and exceeding the needs of the Northern California Harley-Davidson® enthusiast. No matter what you are looking for, from the newest fashion selections in our large MotorClothes® department to the factory trained service technicians and experienced sales personnel, you will find that we will surpass your expectations of what a Harley-Davidson® Dealer should be.

The Modesto Chamber of Commerce 3rd Annual State of Education Forum was held on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at the Martin G. Petersen Event Center. Featured speaker, Mr. Don Gatti, Deputy Superintendent Business Services, presented attendees with a breakdown of how our local school funds are distributed and how funding, or a loss of funding, effects our local business community. Students from the Manufacturing Academy of Ceres Unified School District impressed the audience with their presentation skills and the ways in which they plan to utilize their education to further their career and educational goals. Stanislaus County Superintendent of Schools Tom Changnon and Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, Sue Rich, shared their vision for the new initiative “Destination Graduation” aimed at decreasing our dropout rate and keeping students engaged and in school.

The Chamber’s Excellence In Education Award was presented by Sylvan Union School District Superintendent Debra Hendricks to Mr. Chad Russell, Agricultural Instructor at Turlock High School. As part of his recognition, Mr. Hicks also received a check from the Modesto Sunrise Rotary to be used to further develop his program.

The Modesto Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the educators, students, businesses and individuals who attended the State of Education Forum and participated in providing us with their feedback. We applaud and thank the Education Committee and Stanislaus County Office of Education for their support in making this event successful.

CHAMBER HOSTS STATE OF EDUCATION: BUILDING BRIDGES FOR TOMORROW’S WORKFORCE

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The Chamber and the Education Committee hope that as we move forward the programs and initiatives discussed at the State of Education Forum will remain a priority for the entire community. We ask our businesses to take on an educational challenge or program. Encourage your employees to become more involved and support them when they do.

Without our sponsors, events such as this would not be possible. The Chamber acknowledges that our membership is often asked for donations and we appreciate our member sponsorships, attendance at events and community support. P

Mentor SponsorsHeald College San Joaquin Valley College

Intern SponsorPacific Southwest Container

President’s Club Table SponsorsDiamon dDoctors Medical Center

G oldEvergreen Nursing & Rehabilitation Care Center

Si lv e rAmerican ChevroletBrandman University, Chapman University System Kaplan CollegeMocse Credit UnionUniversity of California, Merced

State of Education Sponsors:


EDUCATION

Help your business make PROGRESS

For advertising information please call Progress Magazine at 209.526.9136

RIBBON CUTTINGS

CENTRAL VALLEY SPECIALTY HOSPITAL 730 17th Street Modesto, CA 95354(209) 968-3978

CONTINENTAL TIRES & WHEEL 1829 Crowslanding Road Modesto, CA 95358(209) 531-9141

HARRIS CODING CONSULTING 726 14th Street, Suite A Modesto, CA 95354(209) 846-9079


PRESIDENT’S CLUBCIRCLE OF INFLUENCE

PLATINUM LEVELKaiser PermanenteWalmartWalmart Neighborhood Market

DIAMOND LEVELBank of the WestCapax-Giddings, Corby, Hynes, Inc.Doctors Behavioral Health Center-DMCDoctors Medical Center-DMCFrito-Lay Co., Inc.MedAmerica Billing Services, IncPacific Southwest Container, Inc.Physician Referral Service-DMCSunPower

EMERALD LEVELE. & J. Gallo Winery

GOLD LEVEL5.11, Inc.Crystal CreameryDoubleTree HotelEvergreen Nursing & Rehabilitation Care CenterJ C Penney CompanyMemorial Medical CenterModesto Irrigation DistrictModesto Nuts Professional BaseballRACOR, Division of Parker Hannifin Corp.Seneca Foods, LLCSysco Food Services of Central CaliforniaTaco Bell

SILVER LEVELAcme Construction Company, Inc.American ChevroletAmerican Medical ResponseAramark Uniform ServicesAT&TAtherton & Associates, LLPAudio Pros of ModestoBJ’s Restaurant & BrewhouseBrandman University, Chapman University SystemCalifornia State University, StanislausCentral Valley Ag GrindingCentral Valley AutomotiveCentral Valley Chrysler, Jeep, DodgeCentral Valley Medical GroupCentral Valley NissanCentral Valley Specialty HospitalCentral Valley Volkswagen HyundaiChildren’s Hospital Central CaliforniaChildren’s Hospital Central California - Specialty Medical Group, Inc.Chukchansi Gold Resort & CasinoCitibank (McHenry Ave.)Clark Pest ControlCOIT Services Inc.Collins ElectricalComcastConcordia Claims ManagersConstruction Management Corp.Costco WholesaleCovanta Stanislaus, Inc.Curtis Legal GroupDamrell, Nelson, Schrimp, Pallios, Pacher & Silva

Del Monte Plant #1Delta Sierra BeverageDirectLine Technologies, Inc.English Oaks Nursing & Rehabilitation HospitalF & M BankGalletto RistoranteGeorgia-PacificGianelli & AssociatesGilton Solid Waste Mgmt, Inc.GMMSAGrimbleby Coleman CPAs, Inc.Grover Landscape Services, Inc.Harris Moran Seed CompanyHeald CollegeI.J. Larsen Pumps, Inc.Infiniti of ModestoInstitute of TechnologyInternational Paper Co.JS West & CompanyKaplan CollegeLion Fusion ExpressMckessonMercer FoodsMocse Credit UnionModesto Commerce BankModesto ToyotaMV Transportation, Inc.Oak Valley Community BankO’Brien’s MarketOLAM Spices & Vegetables, Inc.Pacific Gas & Electric Co.Panelized Structures Inc.Park Inn by RadissonPepsi Bottling GroupPost Foods, LLCPrime Shine Car WashRabobankRaley’sRaymond James & Associates, Inc.Rizo-Lopez Foods, Inc.Rocha TransportationRogers Jewelry Co.San Joaquin Valley CollegeSave Mart SupermarketsSeven Up Bottling Corp.SiemensSolecon Industrial ContractorsSolid Networks, Inc.Stanislaus DistributingStanislaus Food Products Co.Stanislaus Surgical HospitalStinson Enterprises Inc. Storer CoachwaysSunOpta Aseptic, Inc.Sutter Gould Medical FoundationThe Eberhardt School of BusinessThe Modesto BeeTurlock Irrigation DistrictUnion BankUS BankValley First Credit UnionValley Lexus - BMWW.H. Breshears, Inc.Warden’s Office Furniture OutletWarden’s Office Products CenterWinton-Ireland, Strom & Green Insurance AgencyYosemite Meat Co., Inc.



AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Memorial Medical Center’s Katherine Madsen, RN, MSN, CNS, ANP, ACHPN, Palliative Care Coordinator and nurse practitioner, was recently recognized as the California Region winner for her category at the Nurse.com Nursing Excellence Awards in Los Angeles. Earlier this year, Katie was recognized as one of six finalists in the Clinical Care, Inpatient category. A total of 30 nurses in five categories were recognized as finalists at the August 23rd

GEM Awards event. See more info about Katie on nurse.com.

Data Path, an IT consulting firm in Modesto, has earned a place - #3201 - on Inc. 5000 list of Fastest Growing Companies in the U.S. for the third year in a row. The company, which started in 2005, has doubled in size in the past two years to 28 employees. It is owned by David Darmstandler and James Bates, local residents and Grace Davis High School graduates. For more information on Data Path, call (209) 521-0055.

Community Hospice announces that it has received re-accreditation with deemed status f rom the Community Health Accreditation Program, Inc. (CHAP), the leading accrediting agency nationally for hospice and home health organizations. CHAP accreditation demonstrates that Community Hospice meets the industry’s highest nationally recognized standards. Rigorous evaluation by CHAP focuses on structure and function, quality of care, human and financial resources and long-term viability. Since 1979, Community Hospice has provided comfort and care for terminally ill patients and their families. For more information, visit www.hospiceheart.org. P

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

KATHERINE MADSEN

Bad Boys Bail Bonds is a bail agency serving the state of California. Owned and operated by C. Jeff rey Stanley, their trademarked slogan “Because Your Mama Wants You Home!”™ has garnered not only statewide, but national attention. Their newest retail location is in downtown Modesto, located at 1226 H Street, and will be managed by Robert Venn. To contact the office, please call (209) 774-5584 or fax (209) 571-1137. P

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...a series spotlighting entrepreneurial achievement

Prime Shine Car Wash presents:

LAND OF OPPORTUNITY

Prime Shine Car Wash is proud to present The Land of Opportunity. Each month this series provides a forum in which to showcase the entrepreneurial achievements of a Stanislaus County business owner. Prime Shine Car Wash is proud to recognize the entrepreneurʼs ability to overcome obstacles and to honor their successes in their industry and in the community.

CelebratingOver 50 Years

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209.577.10552030 Evergreen Ave. Modesto, CA 95350 www.evergreencare.comFax: 209. 550. 3615

* Registered Nurses 24/7* Long Term and Short Term Quality Care* 175 Bed Skilled Nursing Facility* Pleasant Environment* Inviting and Stimulating Social Activities* Inpatient & Outpatient Physical Therapy * Inpatient & Outpatient Occupational Therapy * Speech Therapy * Respiratory Therapy

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Engaged in your Care& your Life

Ryan SwehlaNAI BENCHMARK

NAI Benchmark is a commercial real estate brokerage and property management company founded by Joe Muratore and Ryan Swehla in 2009. We help companies find places for their business to operate, we help investors find good commercial real estate investments and we help commercial real estate owners manage their property.

What have you done in your professional career that has led you to where you are now?Joe and I both grew up in Modesto. We met on the playground in third grade and have been friends ever since. I moved away to New York for college, then lived in San Francisco before moving back to Modesto. When I moved back, I felt called to my finance background (I’d worked at a hedge fund in SF) so I started working with a small local real estate investment firm. I got exposed to the brokerage world and it hooked me. I got my broker’s license in 2006 and shortly thereafter decided to start my own firm.

What challenges have you had to overcome in your professional life and how did you overcome them?Some would say 2009 was the worst time to start a commercial real estate business, but we knew what we were getting into as the market had already started to show signs of a major downturn. Our firm has grown in revenue every year and we’ve gotten used to growing in perhaps the worst commercial real estate market in the last three decades, so we think we’re pretty well positioned for growth in the coming upturn.

What are some of the accomplishments of which you are particularly proud?We’ve been fortunate enough to bring on some tremendous people. The culture of our firm involves collaboration, teamwork, friendly competition and shared successes and failures. Even though our agents are independent contractors, we’ve been successful in creating a very collaborative, high-energy team environment – and that makes it a rewarding place to work. We genuinely enjoy the people with whom we work and hold them in very high esteem.

Another success is our recent expansion into the Stockton market. We’ve been fortunate to align with Kevin Dougherty, who is one of the most well regarded commercial real estate practitioners in that market. With our merger with his firm, we’ll have offices in both Modesto and Stockton. There are some

excellent commercial real estate practitioners in the Modesto-Stockton area, but generally the market is underserved. We plan to build additional capacity and energy toward serving the needs of this market.

What is the single biggest reason that you have achieved the level of success you have?Without a doubt it is the partnership Joe and I have formed. We’ve known each other since third grade and with that comes a tremendous level of trust and understanding. As an entrepreneur, it’s often a very lonely world. The ability to collaborate and share ideas and decision-making has been critical to our success – and it permeates the culture of our company.

What do you like about your job?Our business is at the cutting edge of economic development. Our job is to help companies find places for their business to operate, whether they are purchasing or leasing. I love being on the front line of helping businesses grow. I also enjoy helping property owners sell their property by creating a bidding environment to achieve the highest price possible.

Do you participate in any community outreach efforts or clubs?I’m a member of the Modesto Rotary Club. I also serve as board president of Great Valley Academy and chairman of the Board of Zoning Adjustment with the City of Modesto. I’m also active in St. James Orthodox Church.

What advice do you have for business people when it comes to achieving their goals?It is so important to have people you can trust to have very open and honest dialogues with about your business. Trying to figure it out all by yourself can be very challenging and lonely. Being in an environment where you have people you can trust and rely upon is essential.

What do you like about doing business in the Modesto community and why do you think this is the Land of Opportunity?Definitely the sense of community we have here. The commercial real estate business is a relational business. In our community, perhaps more than other communities, business connections are founded on relationships and trust from people we know. I value that. I worked for a year in SF and it is a very lonely, individual world. In Modesto, one has a hard time being successful without building strong relationships.

RYAN SWEHLA

STANISLAUS GREEN TEAM

STANISLAUS GREEN TEAM

Interested in REACON Team membership or Stanislaus Green Team sponsorship? Call (209) 577-5757 or e-mail [email protected].

REACON Team Members

Green Team Supporters

Your comfortis our business.

523-4578dehartinc.com

Lic. # 724566

GIANELLI & ASSOCIATES1014 16th Street, Modesto, California 95354(209) 521-6260

The Stanislaus Green Team and the Modesto Chamber of Commerce congratulate Gianelli & Associates for earning the 1st “Green Certi-fication” in our area. To find out how your company can earn “Green Certification” please go to StanislausGreenTeam.com.


3900 Dale RoadModesto, CA 95356209.526.2053www.dalecommons.comRCFE #507004998

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CHAMBER CALENDAR

OCTOBER 2013

4 30TH ANNUAL OKTOBERFEST

Location: John Thurman Field 601 Neece Drive Time: 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

10 BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS

Location: Union Bank 1124 J Street Time: 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

17 STANISLAUS GREEN

TEAM MEETING

Location: Kirk Lindsey Center 1020 10th Street Plaza, Suite 102 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

17 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

Location: Modesto City - County Airport 700 Tioga Drive, Hangar #1 Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

24 GOOD EGG BREAKFAST

Location: DoubleTree Hotel Ballroom 1150 9th Street Time: 7:00 a.m. eggsactly!

28 TECH SUMMIT 2013

Location: Martin G. Petersen Center, 720 12th Street Time: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

30 STATE OF THE REGION

Location: Modesto Centre Plaza 1000 L Street Time: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER 2013

14 BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS

Location: Bank of the West 3600 McHenry Avenue Time: 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

21 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

Location: Smart & Final 2900 Standiford Avenue Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The 25th Annual Make Dreams Real Golf Tournament, which is hosted at 3 golf courses, is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at La Contenta, Greenhorn Creek and Saddle Creek Golf Clubs in Calaveras County. The 2014 grant application process will begin in February 2014 and will be available on the website in January. Organizations with programs for school-aged children that are aligned with Make Dreams Real’s mission and vision are encouraged to apply for matching grants for amounts up to $10,000. Boyett Petroleum proudly underwrites the tournament.

On October 22nd, f rom 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kaplan College Modesto is hosting a Veteran Services Fair in honor of those who have served our country. The f ree event is open to the public and will feature businesses, agencies and vendors such as Gallo, Salvation Army, United Samaritans, Stanislaus County Veterans Office, Stanislaus County Rural Outreach, PrideStaff, Doctor’s Medical Center, Children’s Crisis Center and Great Valley Center that assist veterans, as well as their dependents and survivors, with various services and benefits. For additional information, contact Tisha Walker at (209) 543-7093 or [email protected].

Soroptimist International of Modesto announces the 38th Annual Pancake Breakfast and Craft Fair. It will be held Sunday, October 20, 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Masonic Center, 800 Rose Avenue. The event benefits local scholarships and awards. Tickets are $5.00 and will be available at the door. For more information, call Catherine at (209) 521-0609. P

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTNETWORKING & REFERRALS

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HEADLINES

Oakland Athletics win the world series!

Outrageous! Cost of a gallon of gas goes up to 0.63 cents.

Parks Printing is founded by Austin Parks.

Text “1974” to 75309to find out who and what was cool in 1974!

JOIN THE COUNTDOWN TO OUR

40 ANNIVERSARY


YOU DON’T PROFIT FROM SICK EMPLOYEES. WHY DOES YOUR HEALTH PROVIDER?

* Lew McCreary, “Kaiser Permanente’s Innovation on the Front Lines,” Harvard Business Review, September 2010.

† ”Another American Way,” The Economist, May 1, 2010.

kp.org/choosebetter

In an industry built on fee-for-service care, Kaiser Permanente succeeds because we’re built around prevention and the highest quality care. One Harvard Business Review article described our care as “untainted by any economic conflict of interest.”* And in an industry report by The Economist, Kaiser Permanente’s care was described as promoting economy and quality care with “no financial motive to order unnecessary procedures.”†

Discover a better way.

october progress 2013

Documents

modesto chamber of commerce209

chamber office

chamber ambassadors

presidentceomodesto

chamber tab

whats happeningin modesto

cpavice chairman

ambassador page