Three-term incumbent Deborah Lewis — the lone vote against controversial decisions by the four-member Los Banos City Council majority – has a challenger for the first time in eight years.
Travis Loebig, a close associate of Mayor Paul Llanez who operates a pool service, has filed to run against Lewis in District 4.
Lewis has been the only member of the city council questioning the city’s expenditures, budget and the decisions of controversial city manager Josh Pinheiro.
At virtually every council meeting, Lewis demands that items be pulled from the consent agenda for public discussion. Normally, consent agendas are used by cities to pass routine items. But in Los Banos, millions of dollars in city expenditures and other consequential items are placed on the consent agenda for passage with a single vote.
Some of those items include “change orders” to large contracts that often result in millions of dollars being spent in a practice that appears to violate state rules.
Lewis was the only member of this council to vote against a $1.8 million payment to Pinheiro in 2023. She also voted against rehiring him then voted against changing his contract to give him greater job protections than any other city manager in the state.
More recently, Lewis questioned the status of contract negotiations with the city’s five unions, sparking a tirade from Pinheiro during the council meeting. It has been reported that the negotiations are not going well.
Lewis has long been a popular candidate, running unopposed in 2020 and having beaten two opponents by nearly double their combined vote in 2016.
Those interested in running for office have until Aug. 9 to file, or until Aug. 17 if no incumbent is in the race.
School Districts
Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District has two competitive races. Frank Lemos and Laura Andrews both have filed to run in Area 6. In Area 4, Lisa Areias will face Jasmin Goncalves. Incumbents Maria Davis in Area 1 and Katina Austin in Area 3 are unopposed so far.
There are also two candidates for Merced County Office of Education District 4, which includes Gustine and the areas immediately north, west and east of Los Banos. Incumbent Frederick Honore is running against Rodrigo Espinosa, a current county supervisor who is leaving that position.
In Los Banos Unified School District, incumbents Lori Gattuso in Area 6, and Gary Munoz in Area 4 have filed to remain on the board. Merced College administrator Jessica Moran will run in Area 2.
In Gustine Unified, Kevin Cordeiro is running for re-election in Area 2 and incumbent Zachery Ramos is running in Area 3. No one has filed in Area 4.
City Councils
Incumbent Gustine Mayor Patrick Nagy and Dereck Bruenecke are the only candidates for city council so far.
Teacher Katy Miller Reed is running for mayor of Dos Palos.
State Races Incumbent Esmeralda Soria, elected two years ago when Assembly District 27 was redrawn, is being challenged by Joanna Garcia Rose. In Senate District 14, Anna Caballero is so far unopposed.
