San Bernardino

#Key findings

• Mayor Helen Tran won re-election outright in June (54.7%), so the mayor isn't on the November ballot. Wards 1, 2 and 4 go to runoffs. ^[1]
• Two incumbents are already out. Ward 1's Theodore Sanchez (on the council since 2019) and Ward 2's Sandra Ibarra each finished third in June. Ward 4's Fred Shorett (since 2009) finished second and is fighting to keep his seat. ^[1]
• Ward 2 is a comeback attempt. Benito Barrios held the seat until 2018 and lost it amid controversies, including a 2015 call to the police chief after a traffic stop on a suspended license. Local Democrats formally oppose him. ^[2]
• Ward 1 features a former councilwoman, Virginia Marquez, against a government fraud investigator, Ron Alvarado ("I follow the money"). ^[1]
• Measure Z, a San Bernardino City Unified bond, and Measure Y, a college district bond, are covered under school districts.

#Council Ward 1

June primary: Marquez 34.2%, Alvarado 31.2%, incumbent Sanchez 24.9%. ^[1]

#Virginia Marquez

• Lifelong 1st Ward resident and former councilwoman. Has worked for the state corrections department and the county 5th District supervisor's office. ^[1]
• Priorities: homelessness, infrastructure, prostitution on the corridors, rent control, downtown jobs, more affordable housing.

#Ron Alvarado

• Lifelong resident; government fraud investigator; no prior office. ^[1]
• Priorities: code enforcement, streets and sidewalks, parks, arts and cultural districts, tighter oversight of grants and developer deals.

#Council Ward 2

June primary: Shaughnessy 39.7%, Barrios 32.5%, incumbent Ibarra 27.7%. ^[1]

#Christian Thomas Shaughnessy

• Endorsed by Run for Something, a national group that recruits young progressive candidates. First run for office. ^[3] Answered KVCR's questionnaire. ^[4]

#Benito J. Barrios

• Key findings: Marine Corps veteran; Ward 2 councilman until losing re-election in 2018. Elected with conservative support and allied with former Mayor John Valdivia, whose career ended in scandal. ^[2]
• Record: In 2015 he called the police chief after being stopped for driving on a suspended license, and texted to arrange a gun sale during a council meeting; both drew national coverage. He endorsed Trump in 2016 and pushed for marijuana dispensaries after Prop 64. He was never charged with wrongdoing. ^[2]
• The San Bernardino Democratic Luncheon Club voted unanimously to oppose him. He's seeking support from the police officers' association. ^[2]

#Council Ward 4

June primary: Salas 38.3%, incumbent Shorett 34.4%. ^[1]

#Joe Salas

• Led the primary. Answered KVCR's questionnaire. ^[4] I found little other independent reporting on this candidate.

#Fred Shorett (incumbent)

• Key findings: On the council since 2009; Army veteran and businessman. He won his 2018 runoff by 8 votes (50.1%) and won outright in 2022 (54.3%). ^[5]
• The longest-serving member on the ballot. The June result (34.4%) was the weakest showing of the incumbent's council career, per Ballotpedia's results.