As November’s election approaches, residents across Newman and Gustine will cast their votes for several important local positions. These elections will determine the future of emergency medical services, education, and city governance. This article provides an overview of candidates for the Westside Ambulance Board, the Central California Irrigation District (CCID) Board, and the Newman and Gustine City Councils, as well as the Newman Crows Landing Unified School Board and the Gustine School Board.
Westside Ambulance Board Candidates
Two candidates are vying for a position on the Westside Ambulance Board.
Robert Vargas, a Newman native with nearly four decades of experience in emergency services, aims to improve response times, transports, and district coverage. Vargas also stresses the need for better budget management, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used wisely.
Vargas shared his vision:
“Hopefully decrease response times, increase the transports, improve the availability of the ambulances district coverage, and staffing for the benefit of the district and community. Address the overspending concerns from the taxpayers for the past five years to stay within the budget and the true need for spending money. Improve relationships and training with all First Responders and Law Enforcement throughout the ambulance district. I am a lifelong resident of Newman. I have been with the Newman Fire Department and West Stanislaus Fire Protection District for 39 years. I was employed at Westside Ambulance for 33 years and worked as a paramedic for 30 of those years with the company. I am currently certified as a paramedic and working full-time in the Modesto area. The board needs someone who is dedicated to the success of the Emergency Services in our community and has a strong emergency medical background. Let’s make Westside Great Again!”
Shaun Felber, running for reelection, has learned much from his time on the board, focusing on ensuring timely emergency medical services and advocating for the passage of Measure A, which would provide much-needed funding for district operations.
Felber shared:
“I am running for office for a multitude of reasons, the main being to help ensure that emergency medical services are provided in a timely manner when community members are in need. I have learned so much in my short tenure on the board and owe much of this to the paramedics, EMTs, staff, and board members who have spent countless hours talking with me about how the district runs, our strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and how our operations affect everyone from our employees to the citizens we serve. I believe I am fully equipped to serve the people of our district with their best interests at heart and, in turn, make a difference in the communities we serve. This starts by supporting the passage of Measure A. We desperately need this funding to catch up to current times, but by no means is it a cure-all. We need a solid board of directors to ensure that funding is used for the good of the people we serve. The greatest things in life happen in conjunction with others, and I plan on using that philosophy to do my part in making our ambulance services great for the people I serve.”
Newman Crows Landing Unified School District Board
Mario A. Martins, running for a position on the Newman School Board, has been an active member of the community for many years. With a background in local sports and business, Martins believes the time is right for him to join the school board to make a positive difference for students and educators alike.
Martins shared his goals:
“I have been involved in our community for all of my adult life. Starting with being a Newman Volunteer Fireman in my early 20s for 10 years, on multiple youth sports league boards, and coaching football and baseball at OHS for the last 20 years. I’ve always wanted to get on the school board but with running a family business and raising a family with my wife, the timing just never seemed right. Now, I feel is the perfect time to get on the board and make a difference. I want to help give our children the experience they need in order to learn and grow into successful adults, and that starts by giving them a safe and ensuring environment at school. Every kid should want to come to school to learn every day without feeling unsafe at school for any reason, including being picked on! I want to ensure that teachers are being taken care of, from their pay to their classroom resources, in order to have the right people teaching our kids. It’s pretty simple, our kids are our future, and we need to give them the right foundation in order for them to be happy and successful in life!”
Matthew Harden, an active community member and president of the school site council, shared his motivations for running. He is running for City council and a seat on the Newman Crows Landing Unified School District.
“I decided to run because I’ve been involved with my three children’s school as the president of the school site council for the last six years, and the lack of parent involvement and diminishing teacher support gives me great concern,” he said. “I have two master’s degrees and believe in a quality education that should be made available to all children, including those with learning challenges. My son has ADHD and ASD, and the struggle for me personally on identifying what resources and protections were available to my child, the staff, as well as myself, was a stressful and daunting ordeal that I want to be able to address and make more transparent for others. We parents need a voice on the school board and a say in what policies, curriculum, and community engagement efforts are being made by the school board that can positively or negatively impact the educational growth potential of our children and our small-town culture.”
Attempts to contact other candidates for the Newman Crows Landing Unified School Board were unsuccessful due to lack of contact information.
Gustine Unified School District
For the Gustine Unified School District, Loretta Rose, an incumbent with 17 years of experience on the school board, is running for re-election in Trustee Area 4. She faces Andrew Bloom, a farmer and businessman.
Rose reflected on her long-standing commitment to the school district and her passion for continuing her work:
“As someone who has spent 17 years on the school board, I’ve always believed that true leadership is about being present and actively supporting our kids, staff, and community. You and I are the only board members out there, making sure we show up for the people we serve. While the board as a whole makes decisions from within, it’s those of us who go above and beyond who truly bridge the gap between the boardroom and our community. I love what I’m doing, and I want to see even more great things happen in our schools, from improving the quality of education to strengthening our relationship with the families we serve. I’m committed to continuing this work, fighting for our students, and improving the collaboration we need to move forward. Together, we can make sure our schools continue to be a place where every student has the opportunity to succeed.”
Bloom, on the other hand, emphasized the financial side of educational leadership, focusing on ensuring the district’s resources are allocated effectively:
“Why I’m running is simple; to bring my financial expertise to the GUSD board room. I want to ensure my two children, along with every other child in our community, have the best school system possible. The right programs and funding in the correct areas will help assure this.”
CCID Board Candidates
Two candidates have shared their platforms for the CCID Board elections, focusing on water rights and resource management.
Andrew Bloom, running for reelection in Area 2, is a sixth-generation farmer with nine years of experience on the board. Bloom focuses on local water solutions and collaboration with government agencies to support the region’s agricultural community.
Bloom shared:
“As a sixth-generation farmer and current CCID director, I am proud to have served for the past nine years. Throughout my tenure, I have been dedicated to the fight for local water solutions that benefit all growers in our community, not just a select few. Water is the lifeblood of our agriculture. My experience has taught me the importance of collaboration with not just our growers, but also local, state, and federal agencies. I’ve worked tirelessly to ensure that our policies reflect the diverse needs of all farmers, advocating for practices that sustain our land and support our families. I am running for reelection because I want to continue representing the interests of every grower. I would want a farmer representing me, and I want to continue to be that representative for the members of CCID. Together, we can build on our successes and ensure a sustainable future for Central California agriculture. I ask for your support to continue this important work and to keep our community thriving for generations to come.”
Ross Filippini, running in Area 3, manages over 9,400 acres of farmland and focuses on ensuring fiscal responsibility and innovation within the district to preserve water resources for future generations.
Filippini stated:
“My name is Ross Filippini, and I am a fourth-generation farmer and managing partner in my family’s farming operation in Los Banos. Having grown up in agriculture and currently farming and managing over 9,400 acres of farmland, I understand firsthand the challenges and opportunities that our farmers face. My upbringing instilled in me a strong work ethic and a profound respect for the land and its water. I believe that our agricultural community is the backbone of our economy, and I am committed to protecting its future. My values guide my approach to governance. I believe in fiscal responsibility, maximizing efficiency through innovation, and the importance of preserving our most precious natural resources for future generations. I will work for all water rights holders to ensure that CCID remains accountable and transparent in its operations. I will ensure that the district prioritizes the needs of our local farmers and residents and that CCID surface water stays with CCID farms. I am committed to fighting for the water rights that our predecessors fought so hard to secure and will work towards a future that honors our agricultural heritage while embracing innovative solutions for water management.”
Attempts to contact other candidates for the CCID Board were unsuccessful due to a lack of available contact information.
Looking Ahead
As the election approaches, voters will decide who will represent them on these key boards and councils. These elections will have a lasting impact on the community’s emergency services, education, water rights, and local governance, making this a crucial time for voters to engage with the available information.
