Stockton City Council District 3 incumbent Michael Blower will face political newcomer Jessica Toccoli in the Nov. 3 general election.
District 3 is in north Stockton and extends southwest of March Lane. It had a population of 54,757 in the 2020 census.
In Stockton, the city council is the primary legislative body responsible for approving the city budget, managing local development projects or amending city laws, policies and ordinances.
The city council consists of seven members, including the mayor. The mayor is elected at large, while the six councilmembers are elected by district.
In the June 2 primary election, Blower and Toccoli finished ahead of two other candidates. Blower led with 4,192 votes, or 48.24%, while Toccoli received 3,145 votes, or 36.19%,
according to the official election results.
The Record contacted both candidates to give voters an opportunity to hear directly from them ahead of Election Day.
Blower agreed to a phone interview, while Toccoli requested that the interview questions be sent to her and answered by email.
Blower seeks another term on Stockton council
Blower, a councilman and business owner, was elected and took his seat on the council on Jan. 1, 2023. His current term ends on Jan. 1, 2027.
In an interview, Blower said he was running for reelection because he is a lifelong Stocktonian who loves his community, cares about its future and brings experience to the position.
“I want to continue the work I’ve started,” he said. “I feel like that experience gives me a very valuable understanding of how city government works, how decisions get made and I think it’s important to have some continuity and responsible leadership.”
At an April forum organized by the San Joaquin County Civic Alliance, a coalition of community organizations dedicated to civic engagement and voter education across San Joaquin County, Blower fielded questions from voters. His opponent did not attend.
During the forum, Blower said he had a background in community organizations and public service, including serving as president of the Rotary Club of Stockton and the Central Valley Association of Realtors.
Blower said his mother served 18 years on the Lincoln Unified School District Board of Trustees and credited that example with inspiring him to serve.
If reelected, Blower said his priorities would include maintaining public safety by ensuring police and other public safety personnel have the resources they need.
Blower said when looking at the data, Stockton had 20 homicides from January through August this year compared to 26 from the same time period in 2025.
"That's encouraging, and I give the credit to the officers and the other people who make our community safer," he said.
Additional priorities for Blower include promoting economic development and supporting long-standing local businesses.
Blower said he believes economic development is important is because it creates the tax base.
"That's what brings in the money for us to do all the things that the city wants, that the community wants us to do with the city," he said. "That gives us the money to take care of the parks, to take care of the streets and sidewalks, libraries, you name it."
Discussing his time on the council and accomplishments in his district, Blower said he secured funding to improve and clean up Five-Mile Slough. He said water hyacinth, duckweed and other vegetation had been growing in the slough and that the funding helped clean it up.
However, the councilman acknowledged that the cleanup was a one-time solution, so he proceeded to form an assessment district. As a result, the mechanism was established to help maintain the waterway over the long term.
“That’s a long-term solution instead of just a short-term one," Blower said. "I feel pretty good about that.”
Other accomplishments Blower cited during his time on the council included installing new fencing at Swenson Park along Benjamin Holt Drive, securing funding for new pickleball courts at Grupe Park and reestablishing a fire truck company at Stockton Fire Station 7.
Blower said one accomplishment he was proud of was helping shut down 13 smoke shops that were not in compliance with city regulations.
“I feel really good about shutting down the people that are pushing poison on our children,” Blower said.
As a current city councilmember, Blower has witnessed significant disagreements and conflicts among councilmembers that at times have slowed down the city's work. Blower was asked how he planned to work with his colleagues to build consensus, advance city priorities and ensure the work gets done if reelected.
He said he believed he had built a reputation for remaining calm on the council and did his best to avoid conflict.
“I know I've seen behavior at the dais that I don't agree with and that I will continue to avoid that sort of thing,” Blower said. “I try to bring calm to the council when I can and I’m going to continue to focus on the work.”
He added that he would bring logic and reasoning to his decisions, make reasonable arguments on issues and try to keep emotions out of his decisions.
When asked why he believed he was the right choice for voters over his opponent, Blower said he believes his experience is very important.
“You just don’t know city government works from the get-go,” Blower said. “I’ve got a proven track record of getting things done for my district, and with that experience, that helps a lot to know how to get things done.”
Before heading to the polls or submitting their ballots, Blower urged voters to do their research.
“If they see what I've been able to do for my district, that they will hopefully make the decision that they like what I've done and know that I'll continue working hard on their behalf,” Blower said.
Toccoli takes on incumbent
Toccoli, an educator, said she is a fifth-generation Stocktonian.
When asked to identify four key issues her campaign would address, Toccoli listed problems she hears about daily from her neighbors.
She said that when it comes to public safety, people want to know they won't get robbed at the store and that their kids can play outside safely.
Next, she discussed homelessness and encampments. She said parks and sidewalks shouldn't be covered with needles and tents and that the law should be enforced.
When discussing potholes and basic services, Toccoli said the city should fix what it has already been paid to fix.
Her final issue was providing positive outlets for children.
“We have to work with our school districts to recruit kids into sports, mentoring, and activities before the gangs do,” she wrote in an email.
The Record asked Toccoli how she planned to give voters an opportunity to hear from her and learn about her platform, given that she did not attend public forums or community events during the previous election cycle.
“I want to correct the premise of that question,” Toccoli said. “I didn't skip the community. I've been part of many community conversations and meetings throughout this campaign.”
She said she knocks on doors or makes phone calls every day after work to talk with her neighbors and earn their support.
“Being public-facing isn't limited to one forum stage,” she said. “It means showing up on people's doorsteps and listening.”
In her response, Toccoli criticized her opponent, saying, “What strikes me most is that most of the people I talk to don't even know who my opponent is, after six years on the council. That tells you something.”
According to city records, Blower has represented District 3 on the city council since 2023. He was previously appointed to represent District 4 from February to December 2016, serving less than six years.
When asked why Toccoli felt she deserved the opportunity to be elected over her opponent she said she was "tired of the circus" at Stockton City Hall.
"Stockton is tired of the circus at City Hall: the arguing, the infighting, and the lack of leadership," Toccoli said. "My opponent sits there and votes along with Vice Mayor Jason Lee as a co-star in his reality show, while families are worried about safety, needles in our parks, and potholes."
In May, Toccoli faced criticism over campaign mailers that critics described as anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. According to previous coverage by The Record, Toccoli sent voters a letter criticizing pro-LGBTQ+ policies.
In the letter, Toccoli said Blower "backed policies allowing drag performers to read to children in public libraries and community centers."
No Stockton City Council policy has been publicly documented as allowing drag performers to read to children in public libraries and community centers.
Toccoli's letter included several other claims, among them that Blower "voted to make Stockton a sanctuary city and directed police not to cooperate with federal law enforcement.”
Stockton has not been formally designated a sanctuary city but adopted a compassionate city resolution in January focused on immigrant rights and community trust, according to city records. City policies limit certain cooperation with federal immigration authorities under state law.
Additionally, Toccoli's letter said Blower "voted to impose mandatory DEI policies on the entire city of Stockton."
City records show no such citywide mandate. The city has, however, restored its diversity, equity and inclusion officer position, which develops and implements strategies to promote equity within municipal operations.
When asked what role she played in reviewing or approving the mailers and whether she was aware the headlines had been modified, her response focused on Blower.
“I'd ask Mr. Blower the same question,” Toccoli said, claiming Blower’s campaign spent thousands on “vicious attacks” against her. “Did he review and authorize every single one of those attacks on me? I'm sure if you ask him, he'll say he didn't know anything about it.”
Toccoli said she works with special needs students who feel the odds are stacked against them. She said she shows up and inspires those students, which she said she would do on the city council.
“I'll bring that same fight to the council, with a focus on results instead of drama,” she said.
Toccoli said she would bring community-focused problem-solving to issues including speeding in residential areas, mailbox theft and encampments that have taken over parks.
“A one-size-fits-all approach from city hall doesn't work,” Toccoli said. “I'll sit down with residents block by block, find out what's hurting them most, and go after those problems first, so people see real, immediate relief.”
Her solutions to issues include enforcing the law, putting city resources into basic repairs and building partnerships with school districts so children have positive alternatives.
“I am going to be the change I wish to see and that starts with action,” Toccoli said.
Record reporter Victoria Franco covers public safety in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at vfranco@gannett.com. Support local journalism by subscribing to The Stockton Record at Subscribe to The Stockton Record.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton District 3 city councilman to face political newcomer in general election
