Mayor

    
Rich Ford was elected to the Gustine City Council in 1986 and has been re-elected to the City Council for each subsequent term.  In 2006, when Gustine converted to the elected Mayor form of governance, he became the City’s first elected Mayor.  He has also been involved in the following activities for the City Council:  Recreation Commission, Airport Commission, Infrastructure Committee, School Facilities Committee, Merced County Association of Government Governing Board, Revenue Sharing Agreement Committee, and Gustine Fire Department.

Since 1970 he has operated the Ford’s Farm Supply Company.  He and his wife Lori have one daughter, MacKenzie.  His hobbies include raising beef cattle and working in the family business.

Mayor Pro Tempore

    
Joe Oliveira was appointed to the City Council in 1999 and was elected to office in the year 2000.  He was then re-elected to office in the year 2004.  He has been involved in the following activities for the City Council:  Merced County Association of Governments Governing Board, One Voice Delegation to Washington D.C. and Sacramento, School District Facilities Committee, Merced LAFCO.

Council Member Oliveira was employed by PG & E for 38 years until his retirement.  His hobbies include golf, hunting and playing poker.  He is also past president of the Gustine Lion’s Club, past president of the Gustine High School Boosters Club, and president of the Gustine Alumni Association.  He is a lifelong resident of Gustine.  He and his wife Cheryl have one son, Jason, daughter-in-law Nancy, and granddaughter Allyson.
 

Council Member

   
Frank Amaral is a lifelong resident of Gustine.
He attended local schools and graduated from Gustine High School in 1976. After graduation, he attended college and worked part time until 1982 at which time he became permanently employed in the dairy industry, and more specifically the transporting of dairy products.  He is currently President and General Manager of a transportation firm serving the dairy industry.
 
Council member Amaral is married and has two children currently residing at home.  Both children attend local schools. When time allows he enjoys getting out on the golf course. He has been performing musically for 35 years. Currently he mostly performs at local churches which he enjoys very much.
 
He was elected to the city council in November 2006 and looks forward to adding whatever he can to help make Gustine a great place to live and work for future generations.
 

Council Member 

    
Jim Bonta served on the Planning Commission from 1994 to 2000, part of which time he served as Chairman.  In 2000 he was elected to the City Council, and was re-elected in 2004.  He served as Mayor-Pro-Tem from 2002 through 2004 and Mayor from 2004 through 2006.  He has represented the city council on the following activities:  Personnel Committee, Airport Commission, and League of California Cities.  A graduate of Gustine High School, he attended college at Santa Clara University. 

Council member Bonta is currently Manager of Export Compliance with EDO Reconnaissance and Surveillance Systems in Morgan Hill.  He and his wife Nancy have three children.  His hobbies include golf and hunting.  He is a member of the Gustine Lions Club, Veteran of Foreign Wars and Native Sons of the Golden West.
 

Council Member

    
Bart Garcia was appointed to the City Council in 2001 and was elected to office in the year 2002.  He was then re-elected to office in the year 2006.  He has been involved in the following activities for the City Council:  Planning Commission, Airport Commission, and Fire Department.  He has been a volunteer fire fighter since 1994.

Council Member Garcia has been employed by Raley-Nob Hill Foods since 1995.  He has worked in the food services industry since 1981.  His hobbies include cooking, camping and traveling.  He and his wife Cheryl have one son, Kacey.