Peterson, Cooreman put under debate spotlight

By Per Peterson

The two candidates for Tracy mayor — incumbent Tony Peterson and Pamela Cooreman — squared off in a debate Sunday evening.

Peterson was appointed mayor to finish the remainder of the four-year term of Anthony Dimmers, to whom he lost in the 2018 election. Cooreman is seeking a second stint as mayor. In 2018, she was appointed to replace Steve Ferrazzano, who resigned to become a judge in the 5th District.

Sunday evening’s debate was moderated by Tom Morin, a member of the Tracy Economic Development Authority Board. The questions were not disclosed to the candidates prior to the debate, and included some community input.

Both candidates were given two minutes to introduce themselves to the community (the debate was broadcast on Tracy’s local cable access channels) and two minutes at the end of the event for closing statements.

Among the questions asked Sunday was the future of the Multi-Purpose Center, which has been a subject of speculation in recent weeks when news spread that the City was in the process of selling the MPC building to make room for a cafe.

Peterson said since an article about the potential sale appeared in the Tracy Area Headlight Herald (Oct. 14), he has fielded a number of questions about the building and what is to come of it.

See this week’s Headlight Herald for more on this article.