As the primary elections draw near, voters in Contra Costa County face important decisions regarding their representation on the Democratic Central Committee, District 1.
Among the contenders are Carolyn Wysinger and Gabriel (Gabe) Quinto, both of whom currently serve on the City Council with terms set to conclude in 2026. Their tenure and actions while in office offer vital insights into their capabilities and priorities, which voters must carefully consider.
Councilmember Carolyn Wysinger, who stepped into her role in 2022 and presently serves as Mayor Pro-Tem, has been a part of the Council for just over a year. Her term has been marked by significant travel expenses billed to the city, raising questions about the tangible benefits of these travels to the city’s advancement. Despite being tasked with numerous board assignments, Wysinger’s participation has been noted as absent unless the engagements provided networking opportunities with other elected officials or potential backers.
On the other hand, Councilmember Gabe Quinto’s tenure, which spans a decade, is not without controversy. His time in office has seen several lapses in city management, most notably a $544,000 sexual harassment settlement and a series of financial missteps that have strained the city’s budget. Quinto’s voting record, characterized by approving financial motions that led to spending beyond the city’s means, contributed to the city resorting to high-risk financial remedies akin to municipal “pay day” loans.. Such decisions prompted the state auditor to categorize the city as one of the ten worst managed out of over 400 in California. Despite an interim improvement that saw the city climbing to the thirteenth position on the auditor’s list, thanks to federal subsidies and reserve funds, the underlying fiscal management issues remain largely unaddressed.
The city’s ongoing struggles with financial stability, including an $85 million unfunded pension liability accruing 6.8% interest, highlight the critical need for prudent fiscal management. Recent efforts to establish an emergency fund and allocate resources towards a balanced budget have left the city with about $4 million in unrestricted reserves, a sum below the Government Finance Officers Association’s recommended level for unrestricted reserves. Continuous spending beyond revenue, a pattern that previously led to financial duress, persists, underscoring the urgency for corrective measures.
As voters consider their choices in the primary elections, the track records of Councilmembers Wysinger and Quinto warrant close scrutiny. Their past actions and decisions provide a window into their approaches to governance and fiscal responsibility. Should their bids for the Democratic Council not succeed, their performance and the outcomes of their policy decisions will undoubtedly influence voter sentiment in the 2026 re-election campaigns.
The importance of informed voting cannot be overstated, with the future fiscal health and governance of the city hanging in the balance.
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 