The city of El Cerrito is approaching a key moment: Gabe Quinto — now in his eleventh year on the City Council — has confirmed to Livable El Cerrito on October 31, 2025, that he plans to run for re-election in 2026. At the same time, he is slated to be selected as mayor in December 2025 and serve throughout 2026.
This blog takes a closer look at the promises and rhetoric he has advanced — and contrasts them with the public record and local commentary to date. If you’re a resident with an eye on accountability and outcomes, this is a meaningful conversation.
📧 Contact: gquinto@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
His stated priorities and public narrative
According to his official bio:
Quinto was first elected in 2014; his current term ends in 2026.
He presents himself as a proponent of good governance, diversity, equity, and environmental stewardship.
He identifies publicly as El Cerrito’s first Filipino-American and LGBTQ Councilmember — and the city’s second Asian American elected official.
His stated priorities include “equity, fiscal responsibility, and public safety.”
In short, the public story is of a seasoned Councilmember who is a progressive voice committed to inclusion and responsible management.
Where the gaps between rhetoric and practice show up
- Fiscal responsibility vs. budget management
Quinto often speaks about fiscal responsibility, yet under his tenure, El Cerrito has repeatedly faced structural deficits, depleted reserves, and heavy dependence on new tax measures. The city’s reserve position remains fragile, and the so-called “balanced budget” masks mid-year asks and long-term liabilities, including a pension debt exceeding $80 million. - Equity and transparency vs. governance culture
While Quinto’s messaging emphasizes inclusivity and transparency, city governance remains closed. The city reveals only years-required information and doesn’t allow remote comments, which impacts the elderly, mobility-challenged and those with children. El Cerrito is opaque and heavily staff-driven, with limited citizen oversight.
During his last campaign, he claimed to be a college graduate but hadn’t graduated. - Service delivery vs. resident experience
Despite claims of supporting community safety and strong city services, residents report slower response times, aging infrastructure, and declining service quality. Key community facilities — such as the senior center and library — remain unfunded or delayed, even as new taxes are discussed.
New Taxes Initiated While Quinto Was in Office
Since Gabe Quinto first took office in 2014, the city of El Cerrito has approved several significant revenue measures. These include:
- The real-estate transfer tax: according to the city’s official FAQ the rate is $12 for every $1,000 of the purchase price. Contra Costa Vote+3elcerrito.gov+3el-cerrito.org+3 The transfer tax is codified in the Municipal Code (Chapter 4.64) at that rate. elcerrito.gov+1
- Layered parcel assessments and special taxes tied to landscaping, lighting, storm‐drains and general services have continued — even those pitched initially as temporary. Local commentary notes “every major measure since 2014… has become permanent and gone into the General Fund.”
These new and continuing tax burdens, enacted under an agenda of “maintaining services,” raise questions about what further tax expansions residents might be asked to support when existing taxes remain in place indefinitely.
Financial Difficulties: Auditor Report, Bond Ratings and Depleting Reserves
While the city has raised new taxes and extended others, the financial backdrop shows notable stresses. According to the California State Auditor, in its audit report of the town, the city’s fiscal year 2020-21 audited statements reported a general fund reserve of only $7.1 million — or 19 % of the city’s general fund expenditures — with general fund revenues exceeding expenditures by about $6 million. California State Auditor
The auditor noted that the increase in revenue was primarily driven by an unexpectedly robust real estate market (real estate transfer tax revenue $4 million in FY 20-21, 53 % more than expected) — revenue the city may not reliably count on going forward. California State Auditor On the bond rating front, while the city recently secured an upgrade from S&P Global Ratings in September 2025 (from “BBB” to “A-” then “A+” on particular debt) the upgrade came amid commentary that underlying finances remain in the bottom 20 % of 400 + California cities — meaning roughly 80 + cities are in worse shape, leaving about 320 + cities in better fiscal condition. Taken together, the tax increases, deferred infrastructure and service needs, pension liabilities and historic reserve depletion mean the city’s claim of “balanced budget” must be scrutinised in light of longer-term liability and sustainability questions.
What this means for 2026
With Quinto slated to serve as mayor throughout 2026, his leadership record will face unprecedented scrutiny.
- Visibility and accountability: Every policy decision will be seen as a reflection of his leadership.
- Fiscal transparency: Residents deserve clear reporting on reserves, liabilities, and performance measures.
- Community voice: True inclusivity means more than representation — it requires responsiveness and implementing public comment.
- Measurable impact: Voters should expect progress reports tied to outcomes, not slogans.
Questions for residents to ask
- How will Quinto define and measure “fiscal responsibility” going forward?
- What steps will he take to ensure open data and genuine budget transparency?
- How will he restore trust in city management and strengthen oversight?
- What’s the concrete plan for essential community services — not just long-term aspirations?
Final thoughts
After more than a decade on the Council, Gabe Quinto enters a defining chapter of his political career. This year offers him a critical opportunity to demonstrate whether his leadership can bridge the gap between promises and measurable progress. For residents and stakeholders, now is the time to engage, ask questions, and hold city leadership accountable.
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 