Michele Padilla
CA · Member, Stockton City Council, District 1
Stockton City Council member since January 2023 and a Stockton Unified School District teacher who chairs the council's ad hoc committee on homelessness. Her priorities are reducing crime and homelessness and reinvesting in the community.
Where Michele Padilla stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (2 records), Public Safety and Crime Control (5 records), Social Programs and Welfare (2 records)
Opposes
Housing Affordability (1 record)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (5 support · 4 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 2 support
Voted no on loosening distance limits for tobacco shops. It passed 5-2.
January 23, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Moved to add three city worker positions for a cleanup program at McLeod Lake. It passed.
April 18, 2023Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 5 support · 4 oppose
Moved to add a $3.15 million drone program to the police department's Flock contract, so drones can respond first to calls. It passed.
March 31, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Voted no on creating a new downtown property tax district to fund the Downtown Stockton Alliance. It passed 4-3.
February 3, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Moved to approve a contract of up to $7.8 million for police body cameras, Taser devices, evidence storage and training. It passed.
November 18, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Cast the only no vote on 2025 health insurance rates for city employees. It passed 5-1.
September 10, 2024Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Cast the only no vote on a raise and new contract terms for City Manager Harry Black. It passed 6-1.
August 20, 2024Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Cast the only no vote on extending Measure A, Stockton's sales tax that funds police and city services. It passed 6-1.
December 5, 2023Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Moved to buy 71 police vehicles for up to $3.13 million from the city's fleet fund. It passed.
August 22, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Cast the only no vote on a $3.4 million, four-year contract for printing and mailing city utility bills. It passed 5-1.
May 23, 2023Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Moved to add three city worker positions for a cleanup program at McLeod Lake. It passed.
April 18, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 5 support
Moved to adopt a city ordinance making it a crime to wear a ski mask or face covering to hide identity while causing fear of violence. It passed 6-1.
June 23, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Moved to add a $3.15 million drone program to the police department's Flock contract, so drones can respond first to calls. It passed.
March 31, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Moved to join the CENCAL fire and EMS authority, requiring that its revenue go back into the Stockton Fire Department. It passed.
January 27, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Moved to approve a contract of up to $7.8 million for police body cameras, Taser devices, evidence storage and training. It passed.
November 18, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Moved to buy 71 police vehicles for up to $3.13 million from the city's fleet fund. It passed.
August 22, 2023Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 oppose
Cast the only no vote on rezoning about 2 acres from office use to general commercial and medium-density housing. It passed 5-1.
February 6, 2024Opposes Housing Affordability
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 2 support
Presented her 'Safe Grounds 1-2-3' homelessness plan to the council as chair of its homelessness committee: shelter referrals, sanctioned safe sleeping or parking sites, and help returning home.
October 10, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: stocktonia.org
Moved to endorse a homeless pilot program framework for District 1 that she helped develop. The council instead passed a stricter version, 4-3, over her no vote.
April 29, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Track record — General
General · 18 records
Voted no on waiving legal privilege to release a July 2025 email from the City Attorney's office to the council. It passed 4-3.
July 21, 2026
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Moved to cover the Cesar Chavez name on Stockton's main library and form a committee to decide on the name, after abuse allegations against Chavez. It passed 6-0.
April 28, 2026
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Moved to adopt an urgency ordinance changing city rules for tobacco retailers. It passed.
February 17, 2026
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Voted no on releasing the city's original investigation report on the Wild 'N Out event. The motion failed 3-4.
December 9, 2025
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Voted no on applying for state behavioral health facility funds using the Teen Impact Center as a match. The motion failed 2-3.
October 14, 2025
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Proposed delaying the city's follow-up response to a county civil grand jury report on city government, saying council members needed more time. The delay passed 4-2.
May 13, 2025
Source: stocktonia.org
Moved to waive legal privilege so the city could publicly release reports from confidential Brown Act (open meetings law) investigations from the past four years. It passed.
March 4, 2025
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Voted no on extending the city's contract with ASM Global to run the arena, ballpark, Bob Hope Theater and other venues. It passed 4-3.
December 10, 2024
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Voted no on denying an appeal of a permit for beer and wine sales at a market at 2208 East Main Street. The denial passed 4-3.
December 3, 2024
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Cast the only no vote on the council opposing Measure N, a police and fire union measure for binding arbitration in contract disputes. It passed 6-1.
July 26, 2024
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Voted no on changes to the city's industrial warehouse standards. They passed 4-2.
July 9, 2024
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Cast the only no vote on accepting the city's 2023 report on economic development subsidies to developers. It passed 5-1.
June 4, 2024
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Moved to appoint Esperanza Vielma to the Stockton Planning Commission for District 1. It passed.
May 21, 2024
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Nominated Motec Sanchez to the Stockton Planning Commission for District 1. The motion died without a second.
March 19, 2024
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Released a public letter in October 2023 accusing City Manager Harry Black of verbal abuse and saying she would stop meeting with him privately. Fellow council members criticized her use of city letterhead.
November 10, 2023
Source: stocktonia.org
Cast the only no vote on selling a city-owned lot at 25 North Grant Street to a private buyer for $4,812. It passed 4-1.
November 7, 2023
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Voted no again on flying the Pride flag at City Hall for a week in June. It passed 4-3.
June 20, 2023
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Voted no on flying the Pride flag at City Hall during Pride Month. The motion failed 3-3.
June 13, 2023
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 1 record
Was censured by the Stockton City Council, 5-0, for using about $10,000 of her council discretionary funds on a July 2024 community barbecue where candidates gave political speeches. She abstained.
November 12, 2024
Source: stockton.granicus.com
Past race Michele Padilla ran in:
- Member of City Council, District 1 · November 3, 2026 · Stockton city, California · incumbent