Here are The Bee’s endorsements for West Sacramento elections at an important moment | Opinion

For years, West Sacramento has been a great story locally and nationally. Right across the Sacramento River from the state capital, the city is one of the fastest-growing cities in the region. At roughly 54,000 residents now, West Sacramento has added slightly more than 20,000 residents since 2000. That was the year the River Cats began playing AAA baseball at what is now known as Sutter Health Park. In March, Sutter Health Park will be where the former Oakland Athletics will begin playing Major League Baseball on the banks of the Sacramento River for at least three seasons - and possibly more.

None of this growth and opportunity happened by accident. West Sacramento has been a can-do city of smart growth and an entrepreneurial spirit. A decade ago, West Sacramento was named the “Most Liveable City in America,” by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and that monicker is not an exaggeration. The leaders of West Sacramento have shown what can happen when smart planning, community spirit and collaborative cooperation intersect.

Maintaining that momentum is particularly important now as West Sacramento continues evolving politically.

For the first time in city history, a mayoral election will mean a four-year term for the winner of the election. Two solid candidates are running to be mayor. Meanwhile, the city is now fully split into districts and two incumbents face challengers, which signifies a healthy community.

The race for mayor

In 2020, Martha Guerrero. a 59-year-old legislative advocate, defeated longtime mayor Christopher Cabaldon and ran unopposed two years later. This time, with a four-year term at stake, Guerrero is being challenged by Dawnte Early, the 42-year-old Mayor Pro Tem of West Sacramento and a non-profit CEO.

By many accounts, Guerrero has been a good mayor for West Sacramento. She has been dedicated to increasing public engagement in the city. She has been cautious about West Sacramento, emphasizing that she wants a balance between growth and concern for the neighborhoods. Guerrero is far closer to labor than her predecessor. She was a “no” vote on a riverwalk trail extension project because she disagreed with the city’s process of awarding the project to the lowest bidder.

“This is a matter of fairness for workers and integrity for our city,” she said in an email to The Bee,

Early has been on the West Sacramento council for two years. She understands that affordable housing is a critical issue in her city and region. She wants to streamline the permitting process in West Sacramento, particularly for rental properties.

As president and chief executive officer of United Way California Capital Region, Early became an elected leader with valuable knowledge of running an organization and its budget. That experience has garnered her endorsements from leaders on both sides of the river.

This a tough call because Guererro and Early are good candidates. However, West Sacramento voters have to choose one candidate and so do we. We endorse Early by a close margin because we believe at this time in the evolution of West Sacramento, her communication skills and her widespread support in her county as well as Sacramento County will serve her city well.

With the Athletics playing in West Sacramento for the 2025, 2026 and 2027 MLB seasons, Mayor Early would use her voice and her platform well to demonstrate that her city and the Sacramento region can support major amenities such as MLB baseball.

We like Mayor Guerrero. She’s done an admirable job. But we think Mayor Early will be a home run for West Sacramento.

District 1

In West Sacramento’s District 1, the most northern neighborhood in town, incumbent Norma Alcala is running against West Sacramento Parks Commissioner, Emiliano Rosas.

At 63, Alcala lives in the Broderick neighborhood of her city. She is worried about the displacement of West Sacramento residents by gentrification. If re-elected, Alcala will make small businesses and addressing homelessness her main priorities. She wants to make it easier to provide tiny homes for low-income residents. More than anything, Alcala wants a more equitable West Sacramento where benefits and amenities are spread across the community.

Rosas is 23 and serves on the Yolo County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission. He could have a bright future in public affairs if he stays involved, we hope he does, but we endorse Alcala because of her experience on the council.

District 2

In District 2, voters will consider the Sacramento County prosecutor Quirina Orozco and labor leader Tim Campbell. Orozco is an incumbent first elected to the council in 2016, when all council candidates ran at large. Orozco can take credit for being part of West Sacramento councils that have run their city well. In late 2022, Orozco, now 49, disclosed that she was diagnosed with stage 4 renal cell carcinoma.

“It’s just the worst news you could ever hear,” Orozco said to Robin Epley of The Bee Editorial board. “The world stops cold. Nothing’s important other than what’s happening in the here and now, right at that moment.”

Despite the gravity of her diagnosis, Orozco said she is running again because serving her community brings her joy. We endorse her because she is the best candidate running to be elected to her district. For whatever reason, Campbell has ignored several invitations to meet with our board. We don’t endorse candidates who won’t meet with us. In Campbell’s case, he wouldn’t even give us a reason why he wouldn’t meet with us.

Holding elective office is about being accessible, transparent and accountable. Refusing to even discuss your candidacy is a bad omen for how an elected official would behave in office. We urge District 2 voters to pick Orozco.