WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero is vying against Mayor Pro Tem (or Vice-Mayor) Dawnte Early to keep her center seat at the dais.

The all-female government officials made city history two years ago when Councilwoman Verna Sulpizio-Hull took former Councilman Chris Ledesma's seat.  

The two current candidates threw their hats in the ring via social media, with District 2 Councilwoman Quirina Orozco immediately endorsing Early on Facebook, while Guerrero boasts Congresswoman Doris Matsui's endorsement on her webpage.

Elected as the city leader in 2020 after serving two years on City Council, Guerrero also used X to announce re-running, offering a link to her private webpage. Between MarthaGuerrero.com and DawnteEarly.com, voters can research each candidate's endorsement and campaign.

Additionally, District 1 Councilwoman Norma Alcala vies against West Sacramento Parks Commissioner Emiliano Rosas, and District 2 Councilwoman Orozco challenges International Longshore & Warehouse Union President Timothy Campbell.

Like the mayoral seat, the four-year council term is decided by district, with council members elected by district voters alone.

District election boundaries were a point of controversy in 2021 when the City of West Sacramento was challenged by attorney Scott Rafferty, who represented the Latino Information and Resource Network, Maria Grijalva, the Broderick Area Homeowners Association and Neighborhood Elections Now, according to the city website.

“On January 19, 2022, the West Sacramento City Council adopted a resolution of intention to transition the city to district-based Council elections beginning with the November 2022 election,” according to the city website. “On March 10, 2022, the city entered into a settlement agreement with the Plaintiffs.”

Additionally, in 2022, the council approved a ballot measure requesting that the two-year mayoral term be extended to four years.

“The city moved ahead with the Plaintiffs' Map and got a final ruling from the Yolo Superior Court to confirm that the districts 3 and 4 elections in November will be four-year terms for those seats,” according to the city website. 

Incumbent Orozco and Campbell also used social media and the internet to announce their run.

For more information on all Yolo County candidates in the upcoming November election, visit https://ace.yolocounty.gov/35/Elections.