We always say that Downey’s future hangs in the balance of the election, but I’m not sure we’ve always taken it seriously. Until now, there’s always been a feeling of security that the right people will be voted in and Downey will remain the beacon of light, prosperity, and positivity that surrounding cities aspire to.

Key words: Until now.

Our mayor is very well likely headed to the Assembly. Our mayor pro tem is facing recall. We’ve lost a host of talent and knowledge at the administrative level. Council meetings are a wreck.

Now more than ever, there feels like true urgency and consequence at Downey polls.

There are six candidates (one incumbent) running across two available seats in Districts 2 and 4.

Having spent hours studying their campaigns, writing news stories, and analyzing the candidates’ forum, here are my thoughts on each candidate, along with who I would pick to fill the seat.

District 4:

The District 4 race should be the most clear-cut decision Downey voters make Nov. 8: it has to be Claudia M. Frometa.

It is one thing to say that Frometa brings with her the experience that comes with a four-year term. It becomes an entirely different ballgame, however, when you look at exactly what took place during those four years.

More than any of her council colleagues, I find Frometa to be Downey’s spearhead through the pandemic, especially considering her stints as mayor pro tem and mayor during the worst of Covid, and her background in Emergency Management at Kaiser Permanente.

Along with experience, Frometa has the obvious roots and long connection to the city, which is reflected in her impressive list of financial backers and endorsements.

While Frometa does tend to walk more on the conservative side of the political spectrum, she has shown willingness to entertain and work with more liberal or progressive ideas; case in point, her support of a moratorium on residential and commercial evictions during the pandemic. Even still, she will be the first person on the council to say that city politics should be nonpartisan; and she’s right.

Joaquin Beltran’s heart is in the right place, but he has done little to convince me that he would be a good fit for Downey’s city council.

Beltran leans heavily into what he calls “The Downey Dream,” which – as far as I can tell – is the goal to live happily, healthily, and prosperously in the City of Downey. It’s an alluring concept, sure, but it makes for a rather shallow, gimmicky slogan.

While he demonstrates passion for his key platform issues – especially that of public health – Beltran often speaks in vague, broad generalities that suggest a lack of grasp on Downey’s intricacies, nuances, and current distinct issues.

Beltran also swings progressive, to an extent that I don’t think Downey is ready for or interested in as of yet.

All I can say about Juan Martinez is that he’s Juan Martinez.

Martinez’s biggest hurdle in November will without a doubt be overcoming the sins of his past, most notably the constant disruption and display at city meetings and events, and his involvement in protests that took place just outside of councilmember homes a few years ago. He also wallows in conspiracy, which those who regularly watch or attend council meetings may have grown tired of, if not numb to.

Like Beltran, Martinez is also progressive to an extent that much of Downey will not find attractive.

My biggest frustration with Martinez is that he’s not unintelligent; he is equipped to make the difference in the city he seems to want to make. However, his attitude needs some serious adjusting. He needs to learn the value and importance of decorum, and that the Boogie Man isn’t always out to get him.

Until that time, his desire to take a seat on the council and make change in the city should be drowned out by his poor reputation.

This is Frometa’s race to lose. I struggle to see anything less than a landslide victory here, but then again stranger things have happened. Regardless, I live in District 4, and Frometa has my vote.

Choice: Claudia M. Frometa

District 2:

The District 2 race is less obvious of a choice than I had anticipated but I’ll try to narrow it down as best I can.

Dr. Anthony Felix has touted his work history and education as the benchmark of his qualifications to be on council, and it’s easy to see why: a veteran with a doctorate and experience handling and managing government funds, he looks like absolute gold on paper.

Yet his campaign rings hollow. His website and social media pages look pretty but lack substance. He emphasizes change and better way of life, but offers little indication of how he’s going to get us there. It’s great to want to fund things like education, safety and housing, but funding doesn’t manifest out of thin air.

Additionally, his prior claims to have had “a gun drawn on him” leave a bad taste in my mouth, especially considering how much he has now back-peddled on them. This wreaks of an extremely poor-timed publicity stunt (not that there’s ever a really good time for a publicity stunt when it comes to city council elections).

This is more of a contest between Hector Sosa and Art Montoya.

Sosa is your more classic Downey candidate. He’s got many notable Downey leaders, businesses, and volunteers behind him. He’s already allied himself with councilwoman Frometa. He’s involved in the city through Little League and DJAA, Kiwanis, and Gangs out of Downey. He’s the second highest fundraiser of the election (and he’s got yard signs everywhere).

He’s a safe bet, I just need him to give me a little more.

At times, Sosa seems to fall back too readily on his resume of volunteerism and his rolodex: “Vote for me because I’m more invested in the city than the other guys.”

Do not take this the wrong way – his connections and roots in the city are absolutely to his and the community’s benefit. It is a reflection that he is already involved, that he knows the city, and that he has a stake in its success and survival.

He has already taken positive steps to correct my biggest criticism of him, releasing his plans for addressing the homeless issue and his vision of Downey as an economic hub. As far as I know, they are the first times he has laid out some specific potential policy, and I hope they’re not the last.

Montoya could easily appeal to the younger, up-and-coming generation. He was raised in Downey. He skews more progressive than Sosa but not so much so that would be too terribly frightening to a more conservative audience. He already has the experience of working as part of Downey’s Planning Commission and Public Works Committee. He’s a young, personable guy looking to make his mark (and some change) in his community. At the worst, he’s a gamble, the very least, a dark horse.

Montoya’s biggest drawback to many voters will likely be his connection to Mayor Pro Tem Catherine Alvarez, for whom he represented on the Planning Commission and still represents in Public Works.

At the candidates’ forum, Montoya made an impressive attempt to separate himself from Alvarez, saying that she was “her own councilmember” and that he didn’t always agree with her. He also noted that he had been approved by all members of the council to serve as Alvarez’s representative not once, but twice.

While I can’t speak for others, he impressed me. Sure, the appointing of commissioners and representatives is mostly a rubber stamp affair. Still, Montoya did well to try and tame the gigantic elephant in the room. I’ve called it the mic drop of the evening.

Montoya is a good candidate. With a little more polish and experience, I think he could be a great candidate. I believe he will have his time at some point, be it in Downey or some other political venture.

But the time to right the ship is now; we have to stop the rocking before we can effectively move forward. Sosa represents District 2’s candidate with the best experience, support, and background to bring some stability to the city in its greatest time of need.

Choice: Hector Sosa