Both challengers in the Ward 4 City Council race said Tuesday they would have approved a $20 million state grant for homeless housing that the Council rejected the night before, putting them at odds with incumbent Chuck Conder, who defended his "no" vote at the first of three candidate forums hosted by neighborhood groups.
The forum, held at Orange Terrace Community Center and sponsored by Mission Grove Neighborhood Alliance and Residents for Responsible Representation, drew 13 of the 16 announced candidates across Wards 2, 4, and 6 ahead of the June 2 primary election.
Candidates disagreed when moderator Lewis Allen posed an audience question about the Council's 4-3 vote against the Quality Inn conversion project — one of only five such projects approved statewide.
"We have zoning codes in this city to protect the quality of life, to protect our neighborhoods, and protect our businesses," Conder said. "University Ave, there's not one home, not one residence on University Ave. It is a commercial. It is a retail zone between the university and downtown. It is not the place to put it."
Conder accused the project of being "rushed through by a certain individual who's trying to make it as a campaign piece for her going to Sacramento" — an apparent reference to Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes, who represents Ward 2 and has announced a run for State Assembly.
Challenger Jessica Qattawi, president of the Riverside Neighborhood Partnership, said she would have voted yes.
"I actually heard Clarissa speak at one of our NBT meetings and she said it was intended for seniors and veterans," Qattawi said. "Why are we not taking care of our seniors that are living on fixed income? That's why they're going to be homeless."
Rich Vandenberg, a mortgage loan originator who serves on 14 local boards and commissions, also said he would have supported the project.
"The idea that this isn't the right place, what is the right place? If not university, then where?" Vandenberg said. "We're all NIMBYs. We don't want it in our backyards."
He added that he gives "a lot of weight" to Cervantes's position because "this is her ward. She was elected to represent that ward. She wants it there."
Candidates Split Across All Three Wards
The homeless housing question revealed divisions across the full field of candidates.
In Ward 2, Aram Ayra said he would have voted "resoundingly yes," calling the project "the most significant investment we could have made in homelessness in a generation in this city." He criticized opponents for being "worried about where their donors' monies are coming from."
Dan Florez, a retired Riverside County Sheriff's lieutenant, and Mike Vahl both said they would have voted no, with Vahl questioning the project's intended population and calling University Avenue "the gateway from downtown to UCR."
Gracie Torres, a Western Municipal Water District board member, declined to give a yes or no answer, saying she would not take a vote "without community engagement, without making sure that I know what the residents of that area need."
Christen Montero said she would have voted yes but raised concerns about displaced workers at the existing property.
In Ward 6, Luis Hernandez and William Smith said they would have supported the project, while Oz Puerta said he would have voted no, citing his belief that "people need access to treatment and services" before housing.
"I don't believe in the Housing First model," Puerta said.
Community Engagement Policy Draws Criticism
Candidates also fielded questions about the city's community engagement policy, adopted two years ago. Several pointed to Tuesday's Council meeting — where public comment was limited and some speakers were cut off — arguing the policy hasn't been followed.
"There was a cutoff, which left a lot of people feeling left out and that their voice wasn't heard," said Luis Hernandez, a vice chair of the city's Board of Ethics who is running in Ward 6. "If you don't want to spend the night there, when there's something important that people want to talk about, then don't run for city council."
Qattawi cited a May 2025 rule change that prohibited the public from showing videos or images during their three minutes of public comment.
"One of the videos shared was the RTRP going overhead. That's not a minor issue. That's a public safety and quality of life issue," she said. "I believe that during those three minutes, residents should be allowed to communicate however they choose."
Conder defended the Council's accessibility, saying he and his field director are "the most responsive people of anyone on the council."
"If you've got an item you want pulled from consent calendar to talk about, call us, email us, text us, and convince us it's something to pull," Conder said.
Ward 4 Candidates Stake Out Positions
The three Ward 4 candidates — who received extra time as the host ward — described their priorities for the district.
Conder, a 40-year Riverside resident and Air Force veteran, emphasized his 18 years of city hall experience, including 10 as a field director for former Councilman Chris MacArthur. He said his top priorities are public safety and getting a new fire station built in Ward 4.
"We are horribly underserved in Ward four, and we will get that fire station," Conder said.
Qattawi, who ran for mayor in 2024, said she entered the race because of concerns about the Riverside Transmission Reliability Project — which would install overhead power lines along the Santa Ana riverbed — and warehouse development in Ward 4.
"If you're not familiar with RTRP, it is a massive project that Southern California Edison wants to put up power lines throughout Riverside, which can be very dangerous to us, which could potentially be the next Altadena," Qattawi said, referencing the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles County.
Vandenberg, who described himself as "not running because I think I'm the smartest guy in the room," said he believes "good decisions come from bringing people together."
"I'm not running because I think I have all the answers. I'm running because I listen, because I ask questions," he said.
Looking Ahead
Two Ward 6 candidates did not attend: Norma Berrellez did not respond to organizers, and Barry Dawes had a family emergency.
The next forum is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 21 at La Sierra Senior Center, 5215 La Sierra Ave., from 6:30-8:45 p.m. That event will focus on Ward 6, feature a modified format with more audience questions, and ask candidates to address the Riverside Transmission Reliability Project.
A third forum is scheduled for Feb. 11.
The June 2 primary election will determine winners in races where a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote. Races without a majority winner will advance to a November runoff between the top two vote-getters.
