Local Politics

Family, friends and local supporters of Monika Saini-Donabed gathered at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel in Merced last week to celebrate the candidate’s run for a seat on the bench of Merced County Superior Court. Saini-Donabed, a former prosecutor and court researcher, is presenting a somewhat rare local challenge to a sitting judge…

The Merced City Council voted to reduce the city’s affordable unit production requirement for residential developments in new annexation areas, and also created…

By John Miller & Jonathan Whitaker And so it begins. Local voters are beginning to hear the familiar sounds of political rhetoric as…

Merced City Manager Stephanie R. Dietz, along with department heads, revealed a proposed spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year 2023-24 on Monday night at City Hall. The total proposed budget comes in at $405.7 million, an increase of $21.1 million over last year’s final budget. The city’s General Fund is projected to account for an overall…

Senator Anna M. Caballero (D-Merced), Speaker-Designate Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) and Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria (D-Merced) recently announced the passage of…

Voter interest in the upcoming General Election in November is ramping up as many of the local races took shape this week with candidates emerging…