STOCKTON - Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva isn't afraid to show his support for two city council candidates.
Silva is enthusiastically supporting Rick Grewal and Christina Fugazi; they are running against incumbents Elbert Holman and Dyane Burgos Medina, respectively.
"I'm encouraging the public to vote for new council members to take office in January," Silva said.
Silva said Holman has been on the council too long and it's time for new faces and new ideas.
As for Burgos Medina, "Council member Burgos has a great personality and makes me laugh, but she's not ready for the city council. She was appointed, not elected," Silva said.
But Burgos Medina and Silva agree on the actual reason for Silva's support for other candidates -- he wants more control of the council.
"I'm not surprised. Since day one, he's been vocal about the fact he wants to be a strong mayor, wants more power on the council, a council he can control," Burgos Medina said.
"Sometimes when people are blocking the efforts of the mayor, the only way to change that is get more like-minded city council members," Silva said.
Holman declined to comment on the mayor's support of Grewal.
