With just under three months left until the November elections, four candidates are running for mayor of the City of Salinas, as the filing period for candidacy ended on Friday, Aug. 7.
These four candidates include current Mayor Dennis Donohue, retired educator Peter Szalai, construction worker Daniel Muñoz and student Hezekiah Gonzalez.
“Over the past two years, Salinas has made meaningful progress. We have focused on practical solutions, responsible leadership, and putting our community first,” Donohue said in his candidate statement.
Donohue first served as mayor from 2006-2012. He was re-elected for mayor in 2024 when he ran against Chris Barrera.
“We are increasing opportunities for affordable rental housing while working to grow the City's overall housing supply. At the same time, we are embracing technology to deliver City services more efficiently, improve transparency, and better serve residents,” Donohue said. “While I am proud of what we've accomplished together, our work is not done. The next two years present an opportunity to build on this momentum, strengthen our community, and ensure Salinas remains a safe, thriving and forward-looking city for every family and every neighborhood.”
With nearly four decades in public education as a teacher and administrator, Szalai believes the City can do better.
“I decided to run because I became increasingly frustrated watching some of the most basic responsibilities of city government go unmet while spending continued to grow,” Szalai says. “Residents shouldn’t have to wait years—or decades—for broken sidewalks and deteriorating streets to be repaired.”
Szalai’s top priorities are summed up as: fixing the streets, spending responsibly and earning back trust.
“I'm not running as the candidate of a political party, an activist organization or a group of powerful donors. I'm largely financing my own campaign because independence matters to me,” Szalai added. “If elected, my obligation will be to the people of Salinas—not to the people or organizations that financed my campaign.”
Szalai shares that he doesn't expect voters to agree with all his ideas, but he does promise to listen before making decisions, explaining the trade-offs honestly and continuing to ask one question: Is this making life better for the people of Salinas?
With more than 20 years working in construction, 43-year-old Muñoz participates in many city events and regularly attends city meetings and wants “to take back Salinas.”
“For too many years, I've seen our people and streets get put on the back burner while our local leaders and their powerful friends thrive,” said Muñoz in his candidate statement. “I am the only candidate in support of a long overdue ag tax that will generate new revenue for the city without placing any additional burden on working families.”
Gonzalez’s candidate statement has not yet been filed and visible to the public, but through social media shares “it’s time for a third space.” Gonzales also wants to improve the streets and sidewalks, but also improve transportation.
“The lack of alternative transportation besides private motor vehicles have left those who can't afford one on the sidelines,” Gonzalez said.
Voters will decide on Tuesday, Nov. 3, whether Donohue serves as mayor once again or if they want to let someone new take the seat.