Candidates Forum Was Huge Success

But where were Tom, Mike and Marie?

Barry Wadsworth – April 24, 2026

Thank you to AAUW Amador Branch & Amador High School students for hosting a candidates forum of our national, state and county candidates last night. It was a full house and live streamed to the local TV station. What a wonderful way to engage our youth in democracy! Great job!

Of the invited candidates, these were the ones that graciously showed up:

• Michael Masuda, US Congress, District 5
• Jaron Brandon, CA State Senate, District 4
• Jamie Lubenko, Amador County Supervisor, District 5
• Brian Oneto, Amador County Supervisor, District 5
• Jeff Brown, Amador County Supervisor, District 3

Thank you, all of you, that took the time out of your busy schedules to show up for this job interview, because that what this was. And thank you for avoiding divisive rhetoric (except for Brian Oneto’s closing statement) and focusing on the common issues important to us all in a cordial, thoughtful way.

Absent from the Job Interview

Not surprisingly, Tom McClintock was invited but didn’t attend. I believe this was a serious mistake. Tom hasn’t held a public town hall since 2017. Apparently, he’s afraid to face his constituents or just doesn’t want to be bothered. He doesn’t seem to understand that he works for us. He thinks it should suffice to robo-call us at dinnertime and have his staff screen callers so that he can spread misinformation, propaganda and blatant disinformation from the comfort of his home, which isn’t even in District 5.

And where was Marie Alvarado-Gil, who ran as a Democrat and then changed parties? She might be regretting her decision at this point and embarrassed to face her constituents.

Perhaps most surprising was Mike Barkely. Apparently he doesn’t know that Amador County is in District 5 or perhaps he just doesn’t want our votes.