Adelanto

#Key findings

• Measure P is a permanent 1-cent sales tax, about $3M a year for the general fund, with an annual independent audit. The city says it has one fire station covering 55 square miles and more than $100M in unfunded street projects. ^[1][2]
• History matters here. Former Mayor Richard Kerr was sentenced in 2023 to 14 months in federal prison for taking more than $57,000 in cannabis-related bribes. Former Mayor Pro Tem Jermaine Wright got 5 years in 2022 for bribery and attempted arson. ^[3][4]
• Voters rejected a vacant-land parcel tax in March 2024 (34.8% yes; it needed two-thirds). Adelanto has the lowest per-capita income in the county, $17,799. ^[5]
• Mayor: incumbent Gabriel Reyes faces Councilmember Stevevonna Evans and Ronald Beard. The live issue is a proposal to zone large parts of the city for data centers, which the Planning Commission rejected 3–2 in August after 47 of 59 speakers opposed it. ^[6][7]

#Measure P: One-cent sales tax for the general fund

What it does: 1% sales and use tax starting April 1, 2027, with no end date. It's a general tax, so the money can go to any city purpose; the city lists streets, storm drains, parks, fire and paramedics, policing and homelessness. A CPA audits it every year and the results are posted online. Groceries, prescriptions and diapers are exempt. ^[1][2]

Track record

Year	Revenue attempt	Result
~2016–2018	Courting cannabis businesses as a revenue base	2+ dozen operations; the Sentinel reports little tax collected; two officials later convicted of bribery
Mar 2024	Measure U vacant-land parcel tax (~$6.2M/yr, 20 years)	Failed, 34.8% yes
2026	Measure P 1-cent sales tax	~$3M a year
[6][4][1]

Money and conflicts: The Yes argument names no signers. I found no organized opposition filing. ^[2]

Does it solve a lasting problem? The service gaps are real. But in a city with this history, the annual audit is the main safeguard, and it's a city-hired CPA reporting to the council, not an independent citizens' committee.

#Mayor

#Gabriel Reyes (incumbent)

• Key findings: Current mayor. After the Planning Commission rejected the data-center zoning, he called for removing its chair, who had voted for it. ^[6]

#Stevevonna Evans (councilmember)

• Sitting councilmember running against Reyes. Evans wants the planning commission chair removed from the commission entirely. ^[6]

#Ronald Beard

• I found no independent reporting on this candidate. ^[7]

#City Council (two seats)

GoodParty lists these candidates; its list may be incomplete, so check your sample ballot.

#Angelo Meza (incumbent)

• Current councilmember. ^[6][7]

#Amanda Uptergrove (incumbent)

• Current councilmember. ^[6][7]

#Jayshawn Johnson

• Planning commissioner who voted against recommending the data-center zoning in August 2026. ^[6]

#Edward C. Reyes

• Filed for council, per the SB County Sentinel's list at the close of filing. I found no independent reporting on this candidate. ^[6]

#Taisha Brown

• Filed for council, per the same list. I found no independent reporting on this candidate. ^[6]