The two candidates challenging Modesto Mayor Sue Zwahlen in the March 5 primary election have legal histories that include being arrested and having criminal charges and civil actions filed against them.
Dewey Bedford Jr. and Sebastian Jones are vying to succeed Zwahlen, who is seeking a second term. The Modesto Bee routinely backgrounds candidates seeking public office.
Zwahlen, 69, was cited in 2009 for using a cell phone while driving, and she paid $149 for the infraction, according to Stanislaus County Superior Court records.
The legal issues for Bedford, 46, in Stanislaus County include his pleading nolo contendere in 2009 to the misdemeanor of disorderly conduct related to loitering, prowling or wandering on private property, and having the DMV place holds on his license twice in 2004 and once in 2014. Two of the holds were for failing to appear in court on traffic citations, and one was for failing to pay a traffic fine.
The California Labor Commissioner’s Office filed judgments totaling more than $16,600 against him in 2014 and 2015 for not paying four employees in his social media marketing business, BU Universal.