Ballot stuffers: Get to know the five other people running for mayor of Sacramento

What do a 21-year-old nurse assistant, 66-year-old mother and 25-year-old pizza maker have to do with political heavies Darrell Steinberg and Angelique Ashby? On June 7, they will be among the nine names crowding the ballot for mayor of Sacramento.

“I think I’ve been doing a lot of hustling out there, and I know that I can at least come in second place in the race,” said Charles Rudy Frazier, a 59-year-old “advocate,” according to his candidate paperwork, who is running as a write-in candidate.

Frazier says he was forced to accept that status after the county elections office refused to accept many of the 25 signatures he was required to submit to qualify as a candidate. He says he is now weighing his legal options. “I’ve filed multiple complaints and they still haven’t given me a reason or apologized,” he said.

Frazier was the only lesser-known candidate to respond to SN&R’s interview request. Along with front-runners Steinberg, the ex-Senate leader, Councilwoman Ashby and bail bondsman Tony Lopez, the ballot includes nurse assistant Aaron Carranza, mother Marlene Andrade, pizza maker Michael Edwards and 80-year-old insurance broker Richard Jones. (Although he dropped out of the race in April, activist Russell Rawlings’ name will also appear.)

Meanwhile, incumbents are being challenged in two Sacramento City Council races. In District 8, Councilman Larry Carr faces a challenge from Chris Baker and Ronald Bell, both retired pastors.

Bell says his work with the city’s Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force has informed his main platform. “Crime and safety are at the very top of my agenda,” he said. “No one in south Sacramento should have to live in fear.”

In District 4, 54-year-old medical cannabis coordinator Susan Colombe is attempting to unseat Councilman Steve Hansen. In her candidate’s statement, Colombe said she wants to use new business taxes to “create new programs that benefit our city and its residents.”

Colombe, Carr and Baker didn’t respond to SN&R’s requests for comment.