Below are responses from the candidates running for the Bakersfield City Council Ward 1 seat.<\/p>\n
Editor’s Note: Responses from the candidates’ 17 News questionnaires are published unedited and no language in the responses have been tweaked, including for grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors. Every answer provided by the candidate is published verbatim.<\/p>\n
Eric Arias![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/kget_bakersfield_articles_800\/5bacc4ecba15d10412810875a07eefc2.jpg\"\/)
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Office sought: Bakersfield City Council, Ward 1 (seeking re-election)<\/p>\n
Age: 30<\/p>\n
Occupation: President & CEO, United Way of Central Eastern California; Bakersfield City Councilmember, Ward 1<\/p>\n
Political party: Democrat, endorsed by the Kern County Democratic Central Committee.<\/p>\n
Family: Single<\/p>\n
Education: B.A. in Political Science, University of California, Santa Barbara<\/p>\n
Previous offices held:<\/p>\n
This is Eric’s first and currently elected office. He represents Ward 1 on the Bakersfield City Council; elected in a special election in November 2020 and then re-elected in 2022. Before taking office, Eric spent six years as a field representative for County Supervisor Leticia Perez and State Assemblyman Rudy Salas.<\/p>\n
Do you live in the district for which you hope to be elected?<\/p>\n
Yes. Eric was born and raised in Bakersfield’s Ward 1 community \u2014 the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. corridor, Casa Loma, Southgate, and parts of Greenfield \u2014 and continues to live and serve there.<\/p>\n
Have you ever been arrested or have a criminal record?<\/p>\n
No<\/p>\n
Endorsements:<\/p>\n
Organizations: Bakersfield Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 246; IBEW Local 428; Kern County Democratic Central Committee; Kern, Inyo, Mono Building Trades Council; LIUNA Local 220; North Coast States Carpenters; Painters & Allied Trades District Council 36; Plumbers, Pipefitters, Steamfitters UA Local 460; SEIU Local 521.
Individuals: Rudy Salas (former CA State Assemblymember); Nicole Parra (former CA State Assemblymember); Andrae Gonzales (Bakersfield City Councilmember); Christian Romo (KCDCC Party Chair); Leticia Perez (5th District Supervisor); Esmeralda Soria (CA State Assemblymember); Nelson Esparza (Fresno City Councilmember); Noe Garcia (CA State Regional Director); Fiona Ma (CA State Treasurer); Hortencia Cabral (Greenfield School District).<\/p>\n
Religion:<\/p>\n
Catholic<\/p>\n
Hobbies:<\/p>\n
Eric enjoys political activism, community-centered events, and service opportunities. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends.<\/p>\n
Your “Elevator pitch”: In 200 words, why should you be elected?<\/p>\n
I’m Eric Arias, and I was born and raised right here in Southeast Bakersfield. Since 2020, I’ve represented Ward 1 on the City Council, and I’ve spent my career fighting for the neighborhoods that City Hall too often overlooks. Under my watch, homicides in Bakersfield dropped 57% from 2021 to 2024, and we backed a Park Ranger Program now patrolling more than 60 city parks. I helped secure more than $22 million in Southeast Strong investment for climate, housing, sidewalks, and bike lanes, and supported a $4 million MLK Boulevard sewer investment that’s unlocking about 1,400 new homes. I also serve as President & CEO of United Way of Central Eastern California, where I work every day with families across our region who are trying to get ahead. I believe you shouldn’t have to choose between a balanced city budget and real investment in your community service. We can do both, and I’ve shown that on the Council. Ward 1 deserves a representative who shows up, follows through, and delivers real results, not just promises. I’m asking for your vote so I can keep doing exactly that.<\/p>\n
Currently, what issues are most important to you?<\/p>\n
Reducing crime and strengthening public safety; improving quality of life through safe parks, maintained streets, and reliable city services; and making sure Ward 1 gets its fair share of public investment after decades of being underserved.<\/p>\n
What is your political philosophy? Describe it in less than 200 words.<\/p>\n
I believe local government works best when it’s disciplined with the budget and unafraid to invest in the people it serves; the two aren’t in conflict. A structurally balanced budget should protect core services like fire response, parks, code enforcement, and public safety staffing, while still pushing resources toward neighborhoods that have historically been left behind. I try to engage with the substance of hard tradeoffs rather than sloganeering, and I believe representing a district means showing up in it, not just at City Hall.<\/p>\n
Should lawmakers be concerned about data centers, or should they work to expand such facilities?<\/p>\n
There must be adequate protection in place to safeguard the public goods before data centers are expanded; including protections for ratepayers, water and energy resources, and the surrounding community. Economic growth shouldn’t come at the expense of everyday families.<\/p>\n
Should universal healthcare be available in the U.S.?<\/p>\n
Yes. We should work toward expanding healthcare access to all Americans.<\/p>\n
Under what circumstances do you think abortions should be allowed?<\/p>\n
Decisions about a woman’s healthcare should be between her, her doctor, and her family \u2014 not politicians.<\/p>\n
Should billionaires in California be required to pay a one-time 5% tax to help fund healthcare and other social programs?<\/p>\n
Billionaires should pay their fair share to help fund healthcare and other social programs, though I don’t have a prescriptive amount or percentage in mind.<\/p>\n
What is your opinion on the current federal immigration policies and enforcement?<\/p>\n
Criminals without legal documentation status should be a priority for deportation.<\/p>\n
Should schools be required to inform the parents about their children’s gender identity?<\/p>\n
No. Parents should have a healthy relationship with their child, and that conversation should remain between them.<\/p>\n
Any important information not covered in this introduction?<\/p>\n
What else would you like to add?<\/p>\n
Who filled out this questionnaire?<\/p>\n
Eric Arias<\/p>\n
Mercy Pe\u00f1a![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/kget_bakersfield_articles_800\/b9053f725f7a31b97c940ecdb5989690.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Office sought: Bakersfield City Council Ward 1\u00a0<\/p>\n
Age:<\/p>\n
Occupation: GFUSD Trustee<\/p>\n
Political party: non-partisan\u00a0<\/p>\n
Family: yes<\/p>\n
Education: High School<\/p>\n
Previous offices held: Altar Society Board, School Site Council GFUSD\u00a0<\/p>\n
Do you live in the district for which you hope to be elected? Yes\u00a0<\/p>\n
For how long? Since 1978<\/p>\n
Have you ever been arrested or have a criminal record? Yes<\/p>\n
Endorsements:<\/p>\n
Religion: Catholic Christian<\/p>\n
Hobbies:<\/p>\n
Your “Elevator pitch”: In 200 words, why should you be elected?<\/p>\n
I am running for Bakersfield City Council because I believe every neighborhood deserves the same basic promise: to be safe, respected, well-maintained, and given the opportunity to thrive.\u00a0 My broader campaign message focuses on public safety, responsible city spending, neighborhood services, especially SEWER Maintenance and addressing homelessness by compartmentalizing solutions. Address crime and sanctuary city leadership is NOT the answer. You can visit my campaign website at mercypenacandidate.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Currently, what issues are most important to you? Economy, essential services maintenance-Sewer, Crime-homicide, hit and run, DUI’s, Homelessness crisis with no accountability Graffiti illegal trash dumping.<\/p>\n What is your political philosophy? Describe it in less than 200 words. priorities include public safety, responsible city spending, neighborhood services, sewer maintenance, crime accountability, No Sanctuary city Policies and addressing homelessness through long-term recovery programs and community input.<\/p>\n Should lawmakers be concerned about data centers, or should they work to expand such facilities?<\/p>\n A reasonable approach is limited but meaningful regulation: require transparency about electricity and water use, ensure companies pay for the infrastructure they need, enforce environmental standards, and protect nearby residents. Avoid unnecessary restrictions that provide little public benefit. The guiding principle should be: Let businesses innovate, but don’t let the public bear the costs of private profits. Ward 1 does not or has not had large growing business infrastructure, due to the crime in a lower income area.<\/p>\n Should universal healthcare be available in the U.S.?<\/p>\n No, I believe in competition and Healthcare should be available to US citizens.<\/p>\n Under what circumstances do you think abortions should be allowed? Pro-life, under no circumstances.<\/p>\n Should billionaires in California be required to pay a one-time 5% tax to help fund healthcare and other social programs? No<\/p>\n What is your opinion on the current federal immigration policies and enforcement? Let the federal government do their job.<\/p>\n Should schools be required to inform the parents about their children’s gender identity? Yes<\/p>\n Any important information not covered in this introduction?<\/p>\n What else would you like to add?<\/p>\n To the voters and residence of Ward 1, if you want a change in the current situation of our Ward, I’m the candidate for you. This Ward has not changed much in the last 6 years and realize it’s difficult to create growth with current council. I’m a candidate that will stay focused on the shortcomings and will work hard and show up. For more information, go to campaign website Mercypenacandidate.org\u00a0<\/p>\n Thank you!<\/p>\n A los votantes y residentes del Distrito 1: si desean un cambio en la situaci\u00f3n actual de nuestro Distrito, soy el candidato indicado. Este Distrito no ha cambiado mucho en los \u00faltimos 6 a\u00f1os y sabemos que es dif\u00edcil lograr crecimiento con el consejo actual. Soy un candidato que se centrar\u00e1 en las deficiencias, trabajar\u00e1 arduamente y estar\u00e1 presente. Para m\u00e1s informaci\u00f3n, visite el sitio web de la campa\u00f1a Mercypenacandidate.org.<\/p>\n S\u00edgueme los buenos! Gracias!<\/p>\n Who filled out this questionnaire? Mercy Pe\u00f1a<\/p>\n