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Dhaliwal faces possible opponent in mayors race
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When Sonny Dhaliwal was thinking about whether he wanted to run for another term as Lathrop’s mayor, he turned to the place you can get the truest opinion from people.
Facebook.
And while he was floating a test balloon to determine what his friends and constituents thought about his job performance and whether they wanted to see him at the helm of the growing community for another two years, he didn’t quite expect the answer to come flooding in so emphatically.
Dozens of people responded, and they all want him back.
While Dhaliwal hasn’t yet pulled his papers to seek a third term as Lathrop’s Mayor, he’s planning on doing so today – giving him just over two weeks to gather the 20 signatures that the City of Lathrop requires from its candidates who are seeking public office.
But his opponent has already emerged.
Steven Paul Macias – who made himself known to the council and the community when he championed a push to stop the Flying J Truck Stop from locating on Roth Road just a stone’s throw away from a residential neighborhood and a school – has pulled papers to run for mayor. If he returns his paperwork and qualifies, he’ll face off with the popular and connected Dhaliwal who has served Lathrop in a variety of capacities over the years – from planning commissioner to city councilman and ultimately, mayor.
And they aren’t the only ones who have announced their desire to seek office. Councilman Steve Dresser, who will see his term expire in November, has pulled the paperwork to run for the unexpired partial term currently being held by Councilman Mark Elliott. That term, which was held by former Councilman Omar Ornelas for just a year before he resigned to pursue a career in education, was filled by appointment, and Elliott will have the opportunity to either seek the remainder of that term, or run for one of the other two full terms that are up for reelection – Dresser’s and Councilwoman Martha Salcedo’s.
Of those two available seats, only one person has pulled the candidate’s paperwork to seek one of them – political newcomer Minnie Lee Jordan Diallo.
All of those who have pulled paperwork will have until the close of business on Friday, Aug. 12, to submit their completed applications and the required 20 signatures of registered Lathrop voters to be checked by the San Joaquin Registrar of Voters.
According to City Clerk Teresa Vargas, the city recommends that those seeking election actually fill all 30 lines provided on the paperwork, and submit the application back to her office as soon as possible so that if there are any issues with the signatures there is time to correct that in advance.
There is no fee to file for the Lathrop City Council, but those wishing to provide a candidate’s statement in the election pamphlet distributed by the Registrar of Voter’s office will be charged an estimated $500.