Statement on the City’s Missed Grand Jury Response Deadline
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2026
Contact: Stockton Democrats Together | info@stocktondems.org
Club will notify the Superior Court, review the City’s response against state law, and record every Council vote on the reforms.
STOCKTON, CA — Stockton Democrats Together (SDT) expresses its disappointment that the Stockton City Council did not approve or publicly release a response to the 2025–26 San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury report, “Governance in Turmoil,” by the September 23, 2026 deadline set by California Penal Code §933.
The Grand Jury released its findings in June. The City had 90 days to respond, and state law does not treat that response as optional. The report itself found that Stockton has repeatedly failed to follow the response format required by Penal Code §933.05. It also found that the Council’s most recent response to earlier recommendations addressed only half of those still outstanding. Given that history, residents had every reason to expect this deadline to be met, on time and in public.
Instead, the Council did not place the draft response on the agenda for its final regular meeting before the deadline. Councilmembers stated publicly that they had not yet reviewed it, and the public has had no opportunity to read it or comment on it.
“We are not interested in theatrics. We are interested in follow-through,” said David Sengthay, President of Stockton Democrats Together. “The Grand Jury gave this Council a clear roadmap and a clear deadline. Missing that deadline sends the wrong message to residents still waiting for City Hall to function. A late response can still be a good one, but only if it is complete, compliant, and made in the open.”
SDT’s accountability commitments
Consistent with Resolution No. 2026-01, adopted by our membership, SDT will take the following steps:
Notify the Court. SDT will write to the Presiding Judge of the San Joaquin County Superior Court and to the 2026–27 Civil Grand Jury. The letter will document the missed deadline and request follow-up to ensure the City submits a response that complies with §933.05.
Review the response against the law. SDT calls on the City to post its draft response at least one week before any Council vote. When it is released, SDT will review it finding by finding and recommendation by recommendation against the requirements of §933.05, and will publish its assessment.
Record the votes. SDT will record how each councilmember votes on the Grand Jury response and on the three reforms our membership has endorsed:
an independent Ethics Commission,
a local campaign contribution limit ordinance, and
an election transparency ordinance.
SDT commits now to recruiting and supporting challengers to incumbents who vote against these reforms or otherwise stand in the way of them. That record will guide our endorsement decisions in every future Council race.
That record will inform SDT’s evaluation of incumbents and candidates in future endorsement decisions.
SDT encourages residents to attend the Council’s next meeting, submit written comments, and ask one question: does the City’s response do what the law and the public require?
Stockton Democrats Together is a chartered affiliate club of the San Joaquin County Democratic Central Committee.
PO Box 4311 · Stockton, CA 95204
info@stocktondems.org · stocktondems.org
