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The November 3 Modesto City Council race is heating up, and two Modesto Junior College alumni are vying for the District 2 seat.
Dave Geer, an Army and National Guard veteran and federal security police officer at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, is running against Al Nava, a Navy veteran and Regional Fitness Ambassador for the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Geer,67, graduated from MJC in 2007 with an associate’s degree in behavioral and social sciences. Nava, 35, attended MJC from 1998 to 2001 and graduated from MJC with an associate’s degree in general education.
Geer attended MJC intermittently from 1988 to 2007. Like many students, he said he often struggled to get the classes he needed.
“I’ve probably attended Modesto Junior College for longer than almost anybody,” he said. “I’ve met and gone to class with many hundreds of Modesto Junior College students over those years.”
Geer took journalism classes from professor Laura Paull, and political science classes from now retired Randy Siefkin. Siefkin has recently endorsed his former student.
Geer has also taken a political science course at California State University, Stanislaus, and would like to complete a Bachelor’s degree there after he retires from his job.
In addition to being an MJC alumnus, he also serves on the Yosemite Community College District Measure E Bond Oversight Committee.
During his time here, Nava was also a student senator on the Associated Students of Modesto Junior College. During that time he lobbied for and helped pass the student fee to raise funds for the West Campus Student Center.
After graduating from MJC, he went on to California State University, Stanislaus to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science.
Nava sits on the board of directors for the Latino Community Roundtable.
Both Geer and Nava believe that they have what it takes to represent the people living in District 2, which encompasses Modesto’s downtown core as well as the west and south sides.
It was some of District 2’s residents that fought hard to pass Measure N, which essentially replaced citywide council races with district elections back in February of 2008. Some were apprehensive about the measure and feared that passing it would lead to infighting on the City Council over how the budget is to be divided.
Geer acknowledged the difficulties that lie ahead for the newly elected City Council in a time of economic hardship. He said that if he is elected, he’ll have to work with the other five city council members both to secure money for the second district and to do what is in the best interests of the city as a whole.
Geer has been touting his years lived in the district as the best reason for voters to choose him.
“I’ve been here (in District 2) for two-thirds of the time Al has been on earth,” said Geer. “I’ve been here for 22 years. I’ve lived in the same house and have had some of the same neighbors for 22 years. I understand the problems facing my neighbors.”
Nava, on the other hand, is running on a platform of change. “Geer will just be another cog, or old gear, in the corrupt political machine that we all know runs too slowly,” he said. “I know how to get things done!”
Unlike state and national political races, the race for City Council is supposed to be non-partisan. Both Dave Geer’s and Al Nava’s party loyalties and political leanings are a matter of public record. Geer describes himself as a small ‘r’ republican. Nava states on his Facebook page that he is a progressive Democrat.
But party politics aren’t supposed to creep into the race. Despite this, some politics-as-usual jarring has been manifested.
Geer has charged Nava with taking positions on things like international trade agreements, which Geer feels are not relevant for the job of a councilman.
Both Nava and Geer have condemned each other for the other’s view on the legalization of marijuana. Nava is for it; Geer, against.
Nava is Native American and sees marijuana as just another herbal medicine. Geer, on the other hand, sees marijuana as a gateway drug.
“It is relevant because many residents in District 2 use it and are being persecuted for their beliefs, when they are harming no one,” Nava said.
Geer and Nava both came to their political views mostly when they were young.
Nava decided to get into politics after growing up in the barrios of San Jose. “I experienced how people struggled and how they believed that politics was out of their reach,” said Nava. “I decided that it was time to join the ranks of all the great freedom fighters.”
Geer came to his political views through his father’s military background and also seeing what went on during the Cold War. “My dad was always interested in current events,” he said. “We watched all the Sunday morning news shows. I formed my worldview, pretty much, during that period of time.”
Al Nava has been endorsed by the Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties’ Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO; by retired Modesto Junior College professor, Dan Onorato; and by several residents in District 2.
Geer’s endorsements include the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, the Modesto Police Officer’s Association, the Modesto Firefighters Association, and the Modesto Bee. Geer also has the personal endorsement of Roe Darnell, the chancellor of the Yosemite Community College District.
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