10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 17-23, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com After the Nov. 3 election, Salinas City Council may look very different, or it may be unchanged. Four incumbents are seeking reelection for mayor and council seats in Districts 2, 3 and 5. All face at least one challenger. In East Salinas’ District 2, long-time councilmember Tony Barrera faces Jose Guerra, a Monte Bella resident who regularly participates in local government and organizes monthly neighborhood meetings. He is not seeking endorsements in his campaign. “I am not really a politician, I am a problem solver,” he says. In South Salinas’ District 3, appointed incumbent Margaret D’Arrigo is facing Cary Swensen, a tutoring company owner and college instructor, and Brent Bagley, who says he wants to help move the city forward while preserving its historic charm. “I think Salinas is a town that is stuck a little in the past,” he says. In District 5 in North Salinas, Hartnell College trustee Irma Lopez is running against Councilmember Andrew Sandoval, a watchdog-turned-elected who has been the subject of recall threats and faced a censure from his colleagues partly for his regular use of social media to share information—and also to mock and question his opponents. Lopez did not respond to the Weekly. The city faces issues including high rents, overcrowding, homelessness and a backlog of infrastructure needs. Salinas, like many other cities, relies on voter-approved funding: Measure E, a half-cent sales tax was approved in perpetuity in 2012, and Measure G, a 1-cent sales tax Salinas voters passed in 2014. The latter, which generates some $34.5 million annually and funds 117 City staff positions, will also be on the Nov. 3 ballot for an extension before it sunsets in 2029. Residents have voiced frustration about how the city has managed Measure G funds since most of it isn’t used directly for street or sidewalk repairs. “We could be doing better to build confidence for residents,” Sandoval says. The three incumbents—D’Arrigo, Barrera and Sandoval—all voted to put Measure G on the ballot, and all support it. “We absolutely need that money for staffing, for infrastructure, for growth,” D’Arrigo says. Swensen and Guerra oppose Measure G because they feel the city isn’t using the funds for fixing roads. Bagley is skeptical of whether it will pass. “People get tired of paying again and again because they don’t see results,” he says. The council candidates are also divided on Measure H, in which voters will decide on Salinas’ rent stabilization and three other renter protection ordinances. (A yes vote repeals them, a no on H vote upholds them.) Sandoval, Barrera, Guerra, Swensen and Bagley all oppose Measure H and support rent stabilization. “Instead of my rent going up $200 a month last year, it went up $55, so that puts $1,700 in my pocket for me to spend locally,” Swensen says. Consistent with her voting record, D’Arrigo is a yes on H, in favor of the repeal. Run For It Seven candidates for three Salinas City Council seats disagree on a range of issues. By Celia Jiménez Cary Swensen is a third-time candidate for Salinas City Council District 3. She supports rent stabilization (a no on Measure H), arguing state protections for renters aren’t strong enough. NEWS “We could be doing better to build confidence for residents.” DANIEL DREIFUSS MyMCB Mobile Banking Made Simple. Secure. Wherever You Go. Download MyMCB Mobile Today! With MyMCB Mobile, you can: • Check balances and transactions. • Deposit checks with your phone. • Transfer funds quickly. • Pay bills on the go. • Set custom account alerts. • Use secure biometric login. Disclosure: MyMCB Mobile requires Online Banking enrollment and a compatible mobile device. Certain features such as Mobile Check Deposit may be subject to eligibility, daily limits, or processing times. Message and data rates may apply. Some account restrictions may apply. [MCB. 2026.0311 montereycountybank.com PREVENTION•EDUCATION TREATMENT•RECOVERY ARE YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL AND NEED OF COMMUNITY HOURS? JOIN THE STEPS PROGRAM THIS FALL AND RECEIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS OR JOB OPPORTUNITIES. MEETINGS ARE TAKING PLACE IN SALINAS, SEASIDE, & SOUTH MONTEREY COUNTY. WWW.SUNSTREETCENTERS.ORG
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