City needs to heal. Four vying for council seats in recall election share their views, goals

Patty Guerra Modesto Bee Aug. 13

Four people vying in a Hughson City Council recall election agree on a lot of the issues the community is facing. But they were most vocal about one: the need to heal a city torn apart by bickering and accusations over the past several months. George Carr, Gary Houx, Jill Silva and Jeramy Young offered their views at a Bee editorial board meeting Thursday evening. Candidates Billy Gonzales and Michael Osguera did not attend. Incumbents Thom Crowder and Doug Humphreys, targeted by the recall, also were invited but did not attend. Crowder has said he is not going to fight the recall effort. All of the candidates stressed the need for transparency: Crowder, Humphreys and Councilman Ben Manley — who since has resigned — were accused in a Stanislaus County grand jury report of breaking state meeting law and conspiring to fire then-City Manager Joe Donabed.