Four residents were appointed to the Citrus Heights Planning Commission on Jan. 12, 2023. Top left to right: James Remick, Oleg Shishko. Bottom left to right: Max Semenenko, Natalee Price. Image credit: City Youtube channel, candidate.
Sentinel staff report–
The influential, seven-member Citrus Heights Planning Commission now has a majority of new members, following appointments by the City Council last week.
New appointees include Natalee Price, James Remick, Max Semenenko and Oleg Shishko. Two current commissioners, Andrew Van Duker and Marcelle Flowers, were also re-appointed during the Jan. 12, 2023, meeting.
Remick will fill the unexpired term of commissioner Paul Makhnovskiy, who resigned from his position earlier this month. Flowers, Van Duker and Price will each serve a four-year term, while Semenenko and Shishko will serve two-year terms as at-large appointees.
Three of the four new appointees were on the ballot for various elected offices in November, but lost. Price ran for City Council District 5, while Shishko sought a seat on the San Juan Unified School Board, and Semenenko lost in his bid to replace incumbent Doris Matsui for U.S. House of Representatives, District 7.
Remick also previously sought a seat on the city’s Planning Commission in 2017, and was nominated by Councilman Bret Daniels, but did not earn the votes needed to be ratified.
Under council rules, each member nominates one resident to serve on the Planning Commission, concurrent with the council member’s four-year term and subject to ratification by the full council. Two additional residents are chosen by the council as a whole, and serve two-year terms.
The City Clerk’s Office said a total of 15 residents had applied for seats on the commission, three of whom also applied for seats on the city’s Construction Board of Appeals. Residents Lance Gartner and Manuel Perez-Salazar were appointed to the construction board.
The Planning Commission meets up to twice a month and is tasked with making decisions on land-use related proposals, as well as holding public hearings and reviewing proposed ordinances. The commission also makes recommendations to the City Council on major development projects.
The five-member Construction Board of Appeals meets rarely and only on an as-needed basis to hear complaints from those aggrieved by a decision of the city’s chief building official. The board also “assists in determining suitability of materials and methods of construction, as well as interpreting technical codes.”
Historically, the Planning Commission has served as a stepping stone for leaders to gain experience before moving up to an elected position on the City Council, which was the case with both Porsche Middleton and Mayor Tim Schaefer.
Businesswoman Natalee Price, left, is in a close race with Mayor Porsche Middleton, right, for Citrus Heights City Council District 5. // Images courtesy, candidates
Sentinel staff report–
Less than 30 votes separate Citrus Heights Mayor Porsche Middleton and challenger Natalee Price in the race for the District 5 council seat.
Latest election results, as of 1:30 p.m. Thursday, show Middleton ahead with 51% of the vote and Price trailing at 48%. Total votes counted so far only amount to 1,291, with 659 votes going to Middleton and 632 votes going to Price.
The next update in vote counting is due to be released this Friday at 4 p.m. by Sacramento County Elections officials.
As of Thursday afternoon, Middleton had not released a public statement about the election results on either social media or in a news release. Neither candidate immediately responded to an email inquiry on Thursday.
Price posted an update Wednesday on her Facebook Page offering a thank-you note to supporters, but not indicating victory or defeat.
“Thank you to everyone who supported me with a yard sign. Thank you to everyone who shared my information with others,” wrote Price. “Thank you to everyone that took time to engage, to ask questions and share ideas. I am grateful for every vote. I am grateful for you.”
The candidates ran on opposite platforms, with Middleton highlighting work the city did while she has been on the council and Price criticizing the status quo.
Middleton, who has been a council member for four years, said in a Sentinel questionnaire that she was running for re-election “to continue moving our city forward,” noting “We have improved our roads, strengthened public safety, and supported our business community.”
Price, who owns the restaurant Taste of Tuscany, said she was running because she watched “as we lost our problem-oriented police force, our motor patrol disappeared, drug use became highly visible, hypodermic debris and litter accumulated, homelessness climbed, and both community pages and neighborhood meetings were riddled with unheard voices.”
The two also earned split endorsements from current council members, with Price being endorsed by Vice Mayor Tim Schaefer and Councilman Bret Daniels, while Middleton won endorsements from Councilwoman Jeannie Bruins and Councilman Steve Miller.
The race for District 5 has far-exceeded the other district races in fundraising, with The Sentinel reporting last week that Middleton had raised over $37,000 in contributions this year, compared with Price at just $6,700. Middleton also reported early contributions over the past two years, bringing contribution totals to her 2022 election committee to more than $78,000.
In the city’s two other district races, Jayna Karpinski-costa has a significant lead in District 4 with 48% of the vote, followed by Albert Fox at 32% and Manuel Israel Perez-Salazar at 19%. In District 2, Michael Nishimura is leading at 35%, followed by MariJane Lopez-Taff at 31%, Steve Forrest Durham at 17% and James Tipton at 15%.
The Sentinel will publish updated results in local races for school board and city council this weekend.
Citrus Heights Council Candidates for 2022. Top left to right: Albert Fox, Manuel Perez, Jayna Karpinski-Costa (District 4). Porsche Middleton, Natalee Price (District 5). Lower, left to right: Michael Nishimura, Steven Durham, James Tipton, MariJane Lopez-Taff (District 2). // Compiled by M. Hazlip
Sentinel staff report–
Latest campaign finance disclosures show more than $100,000 has poured into the various races for Citrus Heights City Council this year, far more than the city has ever seen in recent years — despite elections shifting to smaller council districts within the city instead of being held at-large.
The most money being pumped into the city’s three district races is in the southeastern portion of Citrus Heights, where Mayor Porsche Middleton is facing businesswoman Natalee Price in the race for District 5. As of Oct. 22, Middleton reported receiving over $37,000 in contributions so far this year, while Price reported just over $6,700.
Middleton also reported early contributions over the past two years, bringing contribution totals to her 2022 election committee to more than $78,000. She and MariJane Lopez-Taff, in District 2, were the only candidates who reported early fundraising efforts prior to this year.
Campaign disclosures are required by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) for local candidates who raise or spend over $2,000. Two pre-election disclosure filings are required by the commission, with an additional requirement for candidates to file a separate form each time a donation of $1,000 or more is received.
Below is a summary of the financial filings for each of the nine candidates’ running for Citrus Heights City Council in 2022, categorized by district.
DISTRICT 2
Steve Durham: No donations reported. Filed a sworn statement on Aug. 11, stating he anticipates receiving and spending less than $2,000 during the calendar year on the election.
James Tipton. No donations reported. Filed a sworn statement on Sept. 27, stating he anticipates receiving and spending less than $2,000 during the calendar year on the election.
Michael Nishimura. Reported receiving a total of $18,000 through Oct. 22, with $10,000 coming from personal loans and a pair of $4,000 donations appearing to come from family members with the same last name. Nishimura’s top recent expense listed was $2,005 to All Star Printing for postcard mailers. Total expenses listed were $8,354.
MariJane Lopez-Taff. Reported receiving $4,635 through Oct. 22, with the top donation of $1,016 coming from Sondra Nunez, owner of Mountain Valley Petroleum, a fuel transportation company based in West Sacramento. She also received $734 in contributions last year. Total expenses listed were $3,862, with the top expense of $766 for campaign signs to buildasign.com.
DISTRICT 4
Manuel Perez-Salazar: No donations reported. Filed a sworn statement on Sept. 27, stating he anticipates receiving and spending less than $2,000 during the calendar year on the election.
Jayna Karpinski-Costa: Reported personal loans to her campaign totaling $25,000 through Oct. 22, with no other donations except for a $275 nonmonetary contribution from District 5 candidate Natalee Price for social media management. A total of $5,747 in expenses are listed, with the top expense being $3,936 to Commerce Printing in Sacramento.
Albert Fox. Reported receiving a total of $5,763 through Sept. 29, with an additional $300 reported through Oct. 22. A personal loan for $5,000 is listed as the top donation, followed by a $250 donation from Jerry Roach, who is listed as an individual with no occupational information. A total of $3,250 in expenses are listed, with the top expense of $1,656 being paid to All Star Printing in Citrus Heights for campaign material.
DISTRICT 5
Porsche Middleton. Reported receiving a total of $37,633 through Oct. 22, with an additional $32,391 raised in 2021. Middleton has three top donors who each gave the maximum annual limit of $4,900, including the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber PAC and Inter-State Cooperative, Inc., which lists an address of “The Sanctuary” cannabis dispensary in Sacramento. A personal donation of $4,900 from Citrus Heights resident and Google engineer James Prioleau is also listed. Prioleau also gave $4,900 to her campaign in 2021.
Middleton’s 2022 election committee also received $8,675 in 2020, largely from an $8,500 donation from Citrus Heights Residents for Better Community, which The Sentinel previously reported was formed in 2020 to support Measure M and received donations from “The Sanctuary” and a company with a New Hampshire address listed as Ajala, Inc.
A total of $40,502 in expenditures are listed this year, with Middleton’s top recent expenditure being $6,097 to the United States Postal Service for postage/delivery services, and $10,500 to the American Leadership Forum last year.
Natalee Price. Reported receiving a total of $6,707 in contributions through Oct. 22, with $1,850 coming from a personal loan to her campaign and the top contribution of $900 coming from District 4 candidate Jayna Karpinski-Costa’s committee, who has endorsed Price. A total of $6,717 in expenses are listed, with the top expense of $845 being paid to Brother’s Printing on Roseville Road for campaign material.
The next FPPC reporting deadline for candidates is Jan. 31, 2023. To see all the candidates’ full campaign finance filings, click here.
In contrast to prior years, Bret Daniels won election to his district seat in 2020 with around $3,000 in contributions and Vice Mayor Tim Schaefer won election with less than $2,000 reported in contributions the same year.
Four years ago, when the city still held at-large elections, Councilman Steve Miller reported just over $10,000 in contributions to win re-election, and Councilwoman Jeannie Bruins reported around $16,000. Middleton, who won her seat on the council for the first time that year, reported more than $40,000 in contributions in 2018 to beat a pair of well-funded contenders.
Citrus Heights Council Candidates for 2022. Top left to right: Albert Fox, Manuel Perez, Jayna Karpinski-Costa (District 4). Porsche Middleton, Natalee Price (District 5). Lower, left to right: Michael Nishimura, Steven Durham, James Tipton, MariJane Lopez-Taff (District 2). // Compiled by M. Hazlip
Sentinel staff report–
Eight of the nine candidates running for a seat on the Citrus Heights City Council this year have confirmed they are opposed to the 40-year Measure A sales tax proposal appearing on the November ballot, although some expressed openness to consider a local tax to fund road repairs in the future.
Measure A seeks to raise $8.5 billion in revenue over the next 40 years to fund transportation and roadway projects in Sacramento County, through a half-percent sales tax increase that would raise the sales tax from 7.75% in Citrus Heights to 8.25%.
According to an impartial county counsel analysis of Measure A, revenue from the tax would be allocated with 47.25% going to fund “local street and road repairs and improvements,” 25.11% going towards Sacramento Regional Transit, 22.43% for “congestion relief improvements,” 3.05% for senior and disabled transportation services, 2.16% for air quality programs, and a maximum of 1% on administration costs through the Sacramento Transportation Authority.
Each candidate was asked the following question: The City of Citrus Heights estimates a backlog of $82 million in road repairs, with the average roadway condition (PCI) expected to drop from 51 down to 43 (or worse) over the next five years. Do you support the new half-percent Measure A sales tax proposal as a way to fund road improvements in Citrus Heights and the county? If so, why. If not, what do you propose instead for funding road repairs and maintenance.
Candidates were asked for responses as part of a three-question Q&A, with their answers posted in full below, if responses were within the 100-word limit per question.
DISTRICT 2
Michael Nishimura, District 2:
I do not support Measure A because the County has bigger issues outside of Citrus Heights, and the money will not be fairly disbursed within the City. Especially with the southern part of the County growing so quickly.
If we are going to create a transportation tax, We should do it locally as a city where we have control over how it is spent. And, if we were to impose a tax, the City should create a long term plan and be totally transparent about it. Much like the Citrus Heights Water District is doing with its 2030 project to replace its aging water mains system.
MariJane Lopez-Taff, District 2:
Do we really want to support a sales tax increase when everyone is suffering from a recession? We are trying to attract more businesses to Citrus Heights, not make it more difficult to do business here. This is not the time for this type of tax.
I would rather wait 2 years for the economy to settle, check the pulse of the local economy, then, possibly propose a tax measure that would be similar to Measure M (2020) with a 10-year lifespan – enough time to measure effectiveness and, if effective, an extension could be proposed.
Steve Durham, District 2:
I vehemently OPPOSE Measure A. The Measure’s backers presenting it as a half-percent increase in the sales tax rate is purposely misleading. It, actually, increases the amount of actual sales tax dollars we pay by 6.5%! (Just divide 8.25 by 7.75). Measure A is primarily backed by housing developers in Rancho Cordova! They want us to help fund the infrastructure roads that they are supposed to build! We already have laws that direct 50% of state excise taxes (and 2.25% local sales taxes) on gasoline to LOCAL roads and surface transportation.
*Editor’s note: Candidate James Tipton did not submit responses to The Sentinel’s questionnaire.
DISTRICT 4:
Jayna Karpinski-Costa, District 4:
No on Measure A. It’s a tax for 40 years — not likely to see improvements in Citrus Heights too soon. Less than half goes to roads… The streets targeted in Citrus Heights are Madison Avenue and other large arteries with no money for local neighborhood streets.
We voted no on Measure K and Measure M which would have dedicated 100% to Citrus Heights. Why would we tax ourselves for work outside our city? This year Citrus Heights finally gets nearly $7 million in property tax revenue. We’ll start fixing our streets, one pothole at a time without new taxes. *Edited due to word count exceeding 100 words.
Albert Fox, District 4:
I do not support county-wide tax programs. Proponents promise much but deliver less than our contributions. Distributions favor the larger population areas. We have 4 major North/South and 3 major East/West traffic routes plus I-80.
Taxes or bonds fund road repairs and infrastructure improvements. We either take what is given by joint tax propositions or we take ownership of our cities future and find a local tax increase that meets voter approval. We need council members dedicated to improving our city who sit on the advisory committees and boards to negotiate support our projects. *Edited due to word count exceeding 100 words.
Manuel Israel Perez-Salazar, District 4:
I don’t agree with any new taxes because inflation has already made it more difficult to live so I don’t see taking more money from our citizens. A budget over hall (sic) to see where we can reallocate funds.
DISTRICT 5:
Natalee Price, District 5:
How were our roads allowed a backlog of $82 million? I do not support Measure A. It is unclear how much this tax will benefit the streets of our residents if the tax use is county-wide, and it is not solely for road repair/maintenance. Furthermore, with post-pandemic inflation, now is not the time to hit taxpayers with a tax increase.
An increase in residency and commercial properties secures more tax revenue without increasing taxes on already financially burdened residents. With the City slated to finally receive property taxes, I propose we really press into development to fund road repairs.
Porsche Middleton, District 5:
We have to take a different approach to road repair because the current formula does not maximize our limited number of dollars. Measure A is not the best solution to funding road maintenance since the City will only receive a small portion of this regional tax.
A better solution would have been a measure allowing us to keep 100 percent of the revenue generated to fund road maintenance and repair. The council is working on that by exploring allocating more funding to arterial roads traveled by more drivers while paving courts.
*Editor’s note: Additional questions asked to candidates regarding public safety and homelessness are slated to be published in The Sentinel’s upcoming midweek and weekend e-editions.
Note: As part of The Sentinel’s 2022 coverage of local elections, we have asked a series of seven identical questions to each of the candidates running for a seat on the Citrus Heights City Council. The questions are designed to give each of the candidates an opportunity to introduce themselves to the community and give voters an opportunity to learn more about each candidate’s life and background. Candidates replied via email, and those who responded to each question in less than 100 words have their answers published word-for-word.
Natalee Price, District 5
Natalee Price
Why are you running for City Council? I am running because I can do better. I watched as we lost our problem-oriented police force, our motor patrol disappeared, drug use became highly visible, hypodermic debris and litter accumulated, homelessness climbed, and both community pages and neighborhood meetings were riddled with unheard voices. Voting to pass the budget early without full funding to the police department jeopardized community safety. The quality of our roads is so bad that we are now several million in deficit for repairs. District 5 deserved a new choice on the ballot: I am hardworking, smart, and prioritize public safety and our community.
What are two aspects you like most about living in Citrus Heights?
I love that by living in Citrus Heights everyone belongs to a neighborhood. At monthly meetings, we hear from our CHPD, City Services, and Public Officials. We build relationships with neighbors, address needs/concerns, and receive funding for community projects. When involved, we can build stronger, safer, happier communities.
I also love that we can eat, shop, work, and play right here in Citrus Heights. Whether the farmer’s market or quality grocery and discount stores my family of 7 can build budget-friendly meals. Play days at the parks, date nights at the restaurants, and a store for almost every need.
What are the top two things you’d like to change/improve in Citrus Heights if any?
I want to improve quality of life in Citrus Heights by addressing homelessness. I don’t have all the answers and understand often it isn’t as simple as housing, especially when addiction is involved; however, I have empathy, and resilience, and am willing to respond. I hope to build a local committee (not only the regional board) to strategize solutions within our city.
I want to improve community involvement. More citizens with open dialogue within the neighborhoods give transparency, create understanding, remove barriers, build trust, and allow Council to serve the citizens better by accurately representing their wishes when voting.
What are two books that have had the most influence on your life, and why/how?
The Bible taught me the power of grace, to love my neighbor, rejoice, be thankful, not neglect doing good, share what I have, support my community by bearing their burdens, have faith in the Lion’s den, and face giants with confidence.
Chronicles of Narnia showed me the importance of wise counsel and listening; admitting wrong and giving forgiveness; that our words and deeds have a profound impact on those around us; the importance of courage, perseverance, family, and friendship; just because it may seem illogical doesn’t mean it’s impossible, fight for what you believe in, and be honest.
What are three key principles that would guide your votes on the council?
1) The Human Rights Principles as laid out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Does it uphold inalienable rights?
2) Biblical principles of love: Is my vote reflecting God’s love? Does it give confidence through true actions? Does it offer hope, banish fear, and protect? Does it bind good virtues in unity?
3) Triple filter test: True, kind, and necessary. Does it mislead? Is it based on false reason, motives, or agenda? Does it risk safety or cause hardship to families? Is it needed and/or useful to our community, or just worthless policy and/or another expense to residents?
What kind of volunteer work have you done for charities, churches, or service organizations in the community?
A 7-year member of LIONS Club International, Vice President of both Citrus Heights Neighborhood Area 10 (SOAR) and Residents Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights (REACH); I am a servant leader with a heart for community! I bring necessities to Meals on Wheels recipients; assist senior citizens with yard work; took the blind shopping; installed a sensory garden at Arcade Creek Park and an anti-bullying buddy bench at Skycrest Elementary; organized park clean-ups and more. Building partnerships between Taste of Tuscany, the Antelope Lions Club, FISH Radio, and the Pointe Church, I fed over 10,000 people in need during COVID-19.
City Council members are paid a small monthly stipend of $600 for their service. If elected, how do you plan to balance work life elsewhere with council responsibilities?
I own and operate Taste of Tuscany, a local restaurant, and that offers extreme flexibility. Although I must work enough hours to ensure profitability, I have built a strong team that ensures success when I am away. Clerical and prep work can be done before and after operating hours. I will build my schedule around council responsibilities. While working 65+ hours a week saving a restaurant during a pandemic and navigating zoom learning with an autistic child and a kindergartener, I graduated from Sacramento State with honors; sleepless nights, long days, and hard work are not foreign to me.
Key endorsements: Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost, Citrus Heights Council Member Bret Daniels, and Citrus Heights Vice Mayor Tim Schaefer. Key donors: “My top 2 donors are Friends of Dr. Jayna Karpinski-Costa for City Council 2022 and my always supportive husband Jeremy Price.”
Citrus Heights Council Candidates for 2022. Top left to right: Albert Fox, Manuel Perez, Jayna Karpinski-Costa (District 4). Porsche Middleton, Natalee Price (District 5). Lower, left to right: Michael Nishimura, Steven Durham, James Tipton, MariJane Lopez-Taff (District 2). // Compiled by M. Hazlip
Sentinel staff report–
A total of nine residents are running for three seats up for election this year on the five-member Citrus Heights City Council — and at least two new faces will join the council, due to a pair of current members retiring.
Council districts 2, 4 and 5 are all up for election, with only District 5 having a current council member vying for the seat: Porsche Middleton. Council members Jeannie Bruins and Steve Miller are both not on the ballot, leaving the District 2 and District 4 seats up for a newcomer to join the council.
The Sentinel asked each candidate to submit a 100-word biographical statement, which is included word-for-word below, unless edited due to excessive length. Their statements and campaign websites are provided below.
District 2 Race:
Steven Durham. “I will turn 76 by Election Day. I grew up in Massapequa, NY, but most of my adult life, I’ve lived in California. My wife, Sharon and I retired to Citrus Heights in 2017, after 30 years in Orange County. I have 3 degrees: BA in Geology (Hofstra, 1970), MA in Urban Geography (South Carolina, 1972) and MBA in Marketing (Harvard Business School, 1975). (George W. Bush was a Harvard classmate!). My 40-year business career includes Marketing (General Mills), VP Advertising, Sr. VP Mergers & Acquisitions, Sr. VP Sales for a Television network, and COO for a 1,000-person tech support company.”
Website: not submitted.
Full candidate profile: Meet Steven Durham
MariJane Lopez-Taff. “MariJane Lopez-Taff (aka Jane Taff) is a 49-year-old San Francisco native who discovered Citrus Heights while looking for a safe community to move to with her then fiancé in 2000. Jane is a Certified Professional Life Coach serving business owners in the areas of Leadership, Management and Communication since 2011. Her professional career in non-profit fundraising and volunteer management began at the age of 17 and she has been involved in both paid and volunteer community organizations since such as the Citrus Heights Chamber, ABBA, Women’s Club and Soroptimists. Jane supports a thriving Citrus Heights community – safe streets, economic growth, and fiscal responsibility.”
Website: voteforjane.com
Full candidate profile: Meet MariJane Lopez-Taff
Michael Nishimura. “I have lived in the City of Citrus Heights for forty years. Currently, I sit on the City’s Planning Commission, I am the President of the Resident’s Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights
(REACH), I am on the Board of Citrus Heights Areas Seven, Eight, Nine (CHASEN), I am a volunteer Wrestling Coach at Bella Vista High School, and I am active with Citrus Heights HART acting as coordinator for one week of its Winter Sanctuary. I sat on the Board of the Sunrise Marketplace PBID for 12 years while I was the General Manager of the Elephant Bar Restaurant…”
Website: michaelnishimura.com
Full candidate profile: Meet Michael Nishimura *Editor’s note: Nishimura did not submit a bio statement by deadline. However, in the interest of informing residents, his statement above is taken from his official ballot statement and shortened due to length.
James Tipton. “My name is James J. Tipton, I am a 28 year old Native American from the Wiyot tribe in Loleta, California. I am a Christian conservative and I do not stray from my beliefs to obtain votes. I grew up in Sacramento County, in a middle class household. I have worked extensively in both legal and government fields. I am a local business owner and second amendment advocate. I support our law enforcement and would like to see an increase in police funding. I am community focused and accountable to my constituency.”
Website: None currently
Full candidate profile: *Did not submit response.
District 4 Race:
Albert Fox. “Retired law enforcement and 21-year resident. Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Criminology and Criminal Justice Administration. College Director of Criminal Justice. Graduate of Citrus Heights Leadership Academy, the Law Enforcement Citizens Advisory Committee; member and chairman of the Planning Commission and appointed City Council member. During COVID I coordinated a charitable effort in support of 12 local schools to improve distant learning for students and families through our Impact Campaign. Our campaign supplied equipment, headphones, e-tablets, gift cards and supplies. to the Elementary, Middle and High Schools. I look forward to serving Citrus Heights District 4.”
Website: ajfox.org
Full candidate profile: Meet Albert Fox
Jayna Karpinski-Costa. 31 years in Citrus Heights, married to Ted Costa, no children, lots of critters. Professional: Veterinarian and attorney. Education: B.S., Colorado State University, Microbiology, cum laude 1974. D.V.M., Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1980. J.D. University of Santa Clara School of Law, 1986. Leadership Experience: Elected to Citrus Heights city council in 2004 and 2008, served as Mayor in 2011; served on several regional boards during this time. Since 1998, served as president of Sylvan Old Auburn Road Neighborhood (Area 10). Represented People’s Advocate in the US Supreme Court to defend Prop 13.
Website: www.drjayna.com Full candidate profile: Meet Jayna Karpinski-Costa
Manuel Israel Perez-Salazar. “My name is Manuel Perez. I am 40 years old, married for 21 years and have 3 kids. I have lived in Citrus Heights for the last 20 years. I grew up in Sacramento and moved here when I met my wife. I have been a Class A driver for 19 years, I attended ARC for EMT, I have been a volunteer at the Marysville PD since 2018, also completed the Citizens Academy, I was also on the Construction Board of Appeals for Citrus Heights. When you see me around please say hello, I look forward to getting to know everyone.”
Website: none currently.
Full candidate profile: Meet Manuel Salazar
District 5 Race:
Porsche Middleton. “Growing up the middle child of nine and traveling all over the United States, my roots in service to others began in childhood. My family has served our country for several generations, including my late father, SGM Rayford. My husband of nearly 15 years and I have called Citrus Heights home for seven years, raising two boys who attend schools in our city. For the last four years, I have served as a councilmember and Mayor of our city, proudly earning my master’s degree while educating my two boys at home during one of the most challenging times in recent history.”
Website: www.porschemiddleton.com
Full candidate profile: Meet Porsche Middleton
Natalee Price. “As a mother, I am committed to giving Citrus Heights a safe, sustainable future with improved quality of life for its residents. A 7-year member of Lions Club International and a 10-year resident of Citrus Heights with a BA in Cultural Anthropology. Since 2008, my local restaurant, Taste of Tuscany, has been a community resource. Securing partnerships during COVID-19, I co-designed and implemented a community grocery program feeding over 10,000 people and earning a 2020 ‘Kindness Matters’ service award, one of 20 given globally. With proven management and leadership qualities, a vote for Natalee Price is right for Citrus Heights.”
Website: www.nataleepriceforcitycouncil.com
Full candidate profile: Meet Natalee Price
The Sentinel will be continuing local election coverage over the next two months leading up to Election Day on Nov. 8, 2022. Future articles will address each candidate’s position on various local issues.
See all candidate answers to three top local issues:
Publisher’s note: Want to support our efforts to provide residents with unbiased news coverage of local races in Citrus Heights? Consider a subscription to The Sentinel for just $4.99/mo. (Click here to see subscription options)
A 1950 Chevy Fleetline sits on a field at Rusch Park, part of the Nor Cal Cruisers Car Show held on Aug. 13, 2022. // S. Williams
Latest local news briefs include plans for a $10 million-plus trail project moving forward, nine residents qualifying to run in this year’s City Council races, and a car show and movie night drawing residents out to Rusch Park over the weekend.
2.9-mile trail moves forward after 4-0 vote
Following public comment from more than a dozen speakers on Thursday night, Citrus Heights City Council members voted 4-0 to approve around $10 million in funding to go towards construction of a 2.9-mile trail through the city. Councilwoman Jeannie Bruins was not present for the vote. See full story in The Sentinel’s upcoming Aug. 18th Midweek Edition.
Nine residents qualify for City Council races this November
The City Clerk’s Office reported a total of nine residents have qualified to run for City Council, as of Friday’s filing deadline. Four residents will compete for the District 2 seat: MariJane Lopez-Taff, Michael Nishimura, James Tipton, and Steven Durham. In the District 4 race, the three candidates are: Manuel Perez-Salazar, Jayna Karpinski-Costa, and Albert Fox. For District 5: Mayor Porsche Middleton will compete for the seat with Natalee Price.
Hot August Movie Night draws residents to Rusch Park
The Sunrise Recreation and Park District hosted Hot August Movie Night at Rusch Community Park on Saturday, Aug. 13, with attendees setting up chairs on a grassy hill at the park to view an outdoor showing of the movie “Luca.” The event also featured a car show put on by Nor Cal Cruisers, various food trucks, live music by the band Mike’s Lost & Found, and free swimming for all attendees.
File photo, 2018. (left to right) Steve Miller, Porsche Middleton, and Jeannie Bruins.
Sentinel staff report–
Three seats are up for election on the Citrus Heights City Council this year, and at least two of those seats will see new faces join the council, as a pair of long-tenured council members have both announced they will not seek another four-year term.
The City Council seats for districts two, four, and five are up for election on Nov. 8 this year, with those seats currently being at-large seats held by Mayor Porsche Middleton and council members Jeannie Bruins and Steve Miller. Both Miller and Bruins have said they are retiring from their positions on the council.
Bruins announced last month during a prospective candidate forum that she will not be seeking a sixth term in office. She was first elected in 2002, six years after the city incorporated, and subsequently won re-election every four years over the past 20 years.
Miller announced in a July 23 news release that he will be seeking a position on the San Juan Unified School District’s governing board and will not seek re-election to the City Council, after serving in that position since 2005.
“It has been a pleasure and blessing serving on our city council for the past 17 years and I am proud of everything we have accomplished,” said Miller, highlighting the formation of a police department and building of a new City Hall. “…I am comfortable stepping down knowing our finances are solid, the Sunrise Mall redevelopment plan is in place, and our city is moving forward under the leadership of our new City Manager, Ash Feeney.”
Commenting on his bid school board, Miller said he wants “to make Citrus Heights schools the number one choice for our parents and students.”
Miller is seeking a newly created seat on the SJUSD board, which the board recently voted to expand to seven members, up from five. One of the new seats, Area 7, encompasses most of Citrus Heights, and is the seat Miller is running for.
The race to fill Miller and Bruins’ seats on the City Council is still taking shape, with residents having until Aug. 12 to submit nomination papers to run for one of the seats on the council. Mayor Porsche Middleton has announced she will seek another four-year term on the council, seeking to represent District 5 in the southeastern area of Citrus Heights.
As of Monday at 3:30 p.m., the City Clerk’s Office reported that a total of six residents have pulled papers to run for City Council. MariJane Lopez-Taff and Michael Nishimura are seeking the District 2 seat, Manuel Perez and Jayna Karpinski-Costa are seeking the District 4 seat, and Natalee Price and Porsche Middleton are seeking the District 5 seat.
None of the six residents who pulled papers so far have filed the required nomination papers, but candidates still have a little over two weeks to do so.
The other two current members of the council representing Districts 1 and 3, Bret Daniels and Vice Mayor Tim Schaefer, are not up for election until 2024. Daniels and Schaefer both won election two years ago in the first election held by district. The remaining three at-large seats are transitioning to district seats this year.
While Citrus Heights previously held its elections “at-large,” where anyone in the city could run for a position on the council, a district-based system was created in 2019 after the city was threatened with a lawsuit. Cities around the state have made similar changes in their election systems, when faced with lawsuits alleging that at-large voting disenfranchises minorities and violates the California Voting Rights Act.
Previously, all of the voters in Citrus Heights could vote on all five positions on the council, whereas voters can now only vote for candidates in the district of the city where the voter lives.
Natalee Price stands in front of her Taste of Tuscany restaurant, located just outside Citrus Heights at 7735 Roseville Rd. // M. Hazlip
By Mike Hazlip—
Citrus Heights resident Natalee Price has a hard time hearing the word no; but that’s one of the things that helped this determined mother of five achieve her dream of graduating college while running a restaurant full time with her husband.
Thirteen years ago, the couple opened Taste of Tuscany just outside the city limits at Antelope Road and Roseville Road — a dream Price said her husband, Jeremy, always had wanted.
“We started this business in 2008 because my husband won $68,000 at the Kentucky Derby,” she said in a recent interview with The Sentinel. “We put all our chickens in this basket. There was no backup plan.”
The restaurant offers a variety of Italian dishes and Price says the items are made from scratch using as much locally sourced ingredients as she can find. She also features local musicians on weekends.
“Anytime we can support local, we absolutely do,” she said.
Price had two children at the time they started the restaurant, and three more soon followed. She eventually dropped out of American River College with only two classes left before she would have qualified to transfer to a university.
By 2018, the 10-year-old restaurant was in a stable position, and knowing the window of opportunity to complete her degree was passing, Price decided to go back to school to finish her degree. Just a few years later, COVID would upend the restaurant industry.
“It’s been a roller coaster. The pandemic threw us more challenges than we ever knew,” she said. “We didn’t know how we were going to survive.”
But the couple sought creative ways to survive and also help others. With many area restaurants suddenly left with surplus food they couldn’t sell, Price said she and her husband bought perishables for pennies on the dollar and redistributed food to the community.
She estimates they fed over 7,000 people, and credits the restaurant’s success — which includes nearly 1,000 reviews on Yelp — to their philosophy of giving back to their community.
“God got us through [our first] customer in a Home Depot shopping center (and) all the way through a pandemic, because we give back,” she said. “I truly believe what we have is not for us, it is for the benefit of all.”
One significant hurdle for Price was establishing an online ordering system for customers, as well as delivery services such as DoorDash. Taste of Tuscany relied mainly on dine-in customers before pandemic shutdown orders forced the couple to pivot to curbside pickup.
Without receiving any Paycheck Protection Program funds, they also made changes to employee hours to keep the restaurant going. With fewer hours available to work during the shutdown, they shifted more hours to those employees who had families or who were not living at home. They also started tip-sharing, a practice that continues through the reopening.
“What we realized is: as a team, when everybody cares, you get better service,” Price said.
Somehow, in the midst of keeping their business running throughout the shutdown, shuttling her children to two different schools, and community projects with the Lions Club, Price managed to graduate Magna Cum Lade from California State University Sacramento with a bachelor’s in Cultural Anthropology and a minor in Communication Studies in May of 2021.
She has also been recognized by a number of community organizations for her service to the community, including LIONS Club and the Citrus Heights Area 10 neighborhood association.
“How do I do it?,” she said. “I don’t sleep! You get up and you just do it. You get up and realize nobody else is going to do it, and you do it.”
Her days begin around 6 a.m. and she said she typically puts in about 60 hours each week at Taste of Tuscany. Price says stories from her employees and the ever-present homeless population in the area gave her the rich material she needed for the essays in her cultural anthropology classes.
Looking back, Price is proud of her accomplishments, and says she and her husband were forced to make changes because of the pandemic.
“We kept everybody employed who wanted to be employed,” Price said, noting some employees were concerned about the coronavirus, while others found it preferable to apply for government assistance.
Still, she said keeping a restaurant going during the pandemic has been tough, with customers often not understanding the struggles of staffing the restaurant to keep up with orders and consistent quality.
Today, Price said the restaurant employs high school students whom she has found are more willing to work. It takes about three months to train a new employee to work independently at the restaurant, according to Price.
“We needed people to work and people didn’t want to work,” she said. “Kids wanted to work, they wanted money and they like it.”
What’s next?
The next steps for Price may include more involvement in local community efforts. She’s currently serving as a board member of her neighborhood association (SOAR), and is also her area’s representative for the Residents’ Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights.
A top concern is mental illness and homelessness. She said her family has been personally affected by mental illness, and she feels the current methods used by law enforcement and community organizations can be improved.
With Taste of Tuscany at the crossroads of Antelope Road and Roseville Road near the railroad tracks, Price also has an opportunity to meet people experiencing homelessness on a daily basis.
As for the restaurant, Price says it’s always been her husband’s dream and she’s happy to support him, but she doesn’t know if their children will want to continue the family business. At 18, her oldest daughter is looking into a career in nursing, while her son is interested in becoming a chef at the restaurant.
In the future, Price said she’d like to open a wine bar featuring an open mic forum where community leaders can hear from other members in the community directly. She hopes an open dialogue among officials developing social programs and the people for whom the programs are designed will improve their efficacy.
She also plans to continue the many things her restaurant is known for, like offering free team parties for local athletic groups. Currently, the restaurant covers the cost of pizza and sodas for the team and the coaches, so parents who can’t afford to pay can participate.
“We do a whole lot of losing money around here,” said Price. “But we do it, and we’re happy.”
