With ballots already out, Riverside County voters face a stark choice between two candidates: José Medina, a leader who has consistently shown up for the community across multiple generations, or Richard Roth, who is backed by big money from developers and the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association (RSA), which recently donated $150,000 to his campaign, right after the end of the last pre-election reporting period. This isn’t just any donation — it’s a three-alarm fire regarding Roth’s dismal record. Roth claims to support sheriff oversight, but his voting history tells a different story. Voters deserve to know whose interests will truly be prioritized. Will Roth’s focus be the community or those who’ve funded his campaign? Roth’s record raises concerns Medina has dedicated his life to serving Riverside, both as a public servant and as an educator at Riverside Poly High School, University of California, Riverside (UCR), and California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). He has touched the lives of multiple generations, always fighting to keep Riverside’s budget in taxpayer control. One example of Medina’s commitment to community control is his support for Assembly Bill (AB) 1185, which provided the option for Riverside County’s Board of Supervisors to oversee the Sheriff’s office. While Roth now calls for this oversight, he abstained from voting on AB 1185 when it mattered, raising serious concerns about his commitment to the people of Riverside County. Voters deserve leaders who will act — not remain passive when it matters most. Medina opposes overdevelopment Medina has always protected Riverside’s quality of life, standing against unchecked warehouse development that threatens our community and environment. He has actively supported and continues to advocate for community land trusts (CLTs) as a way to ensure that development serves the interests of residents rather than developers. His decades of leadership show he knows how to prioritize the people’s interests over special interests. Roth, on the other hand, has sided with developers. While he now claims to support CLTs, his past actions suggest otherwise. Roth’s absence when legislation supporting these efforts was on the table is yet another missed opportunity for him to stand up for Riverside residents. Medina takes action, Roth’s inaction speaks for itself Medina has consistently shown up for Riverside, advocating for critical justice reform bills like Senate Bill (SB) 731, which helps individuals clear their criminal records, and SB 1100, which protects peaceful protesters from harm. His legislative work has created real, positive change for Riverside families. In contrast, Roth has repeatedly failed to take action when it counts. He abstained on critical votes for SB 731 and SB 1100, showcasing a troubling pattern of inaction. As chair of the committee, his decision to abstain on SB 913, which would have empowered cities to regulate rogue rehab facilities, further illustrates the disconnect between his leadership and the urgent issues facing Riverside. This repeated inaction puts our community at risk. Conclusion: Related Articles Commentary | Tax hikes on the November ballot will make California an even more expensive place to live Commentary | Ron Paul: Why should we fight wars for Ukraine and Israel? Commentary | Obama wrong to denounce Black men for not supporting Kamala Harris Commentary | Throttling artificial intelligence will come back to haunt California Commentary | Prolonged school closures may be worst mistake in state history As voters prepare to make their choice, the contrast between the candidates is clear. José Medina has been a pillar of the Riverside community for over five decades, tirelessly advocating for justice and equity. In stark contrast, Richard Roth’s long record of abstentions raises alarms, especially with the latest $150,000 donation from the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association. This blatant attempt to skew the election and curry favor reflects a troubling pattern of behavior, demonstrating that Roth’s actions have repeatedly aligned with special interests rather than community needs. Riverside deserves a leader who truly represents the people. Let’s come together to support José — stand up for Riverside! Nathan P. Kempe is the Operations Director of Starting Over Strong (SOS), a justice-focused nonprofit advocating for Riverside County’s systematically disadvantaged populations. He can be reached at [email protected] For more information about Starting Over Strong, please visit Starting Over Strong.