Mayor Amy Bublak
Turlock residents,
I am humbled to have your support and thank you for returning me as your mayor. Turlock is a special place. Our shared love of this city and each other makes us Turlock Strong.
We have accomplished so much, but there is more work to be done. We have two new council members whom I look forward to working with as we continue to work on behalf of you. We have an outstanding city manager, and with his leadership, have reorganized our departments and services for better quality and efficiency. Our executive team and staff are doing an outstanding job. Your council unanimously voted to support our plan to operate the Stanislaus Regional Water Authority project, ensuring we have accountability and savings in costs associated with future surface water service. We have completed some road repairs and have additional road projects under construction. We are filling vacant positions in the fire and police departments. We are working with community partners on homelessness in our efforts to assist those who want assistance when they've fallen on hard times while not sacrificing standards for community well-being. We are under construction on the Columbia Pool. We will ensure our businesses have every opportunity to compete and thrive in a difficult economic climate.
Mayor Amy Bublak's Facebook Page
Amy Bublak, Mayor
City of Turlock
To email the mayor, send an email to abublak@turlock.ca.us
Mayor Amy Bublak: Proven Leadership for Turlock
Public Safety. Financial Strength. A Better Future for Every Generation.Mayor Amy Bublak has devoted her career to protecting people, strengthening public institutions, and delivering results residents can see in their daily lives. Her purpose is clear: to leave Turlock safer, financially stronger, and better prepared for the next generation. Drawing on more than two decades in law enforcement, she leads with discipline, listens with respect, and works with the City Council, City employees, residents, businesses, and community organizations to turn Turlock's priorities into measurable progress.
Key Achievements
Restored financial strength: Balanced every City budget since 2020 and increased reserves from $9.8 million to $35 million.
Strengthened public safety: Expanded police and fire staffing and modernized emergency-response equipment, facilities, and technology.
Improved streets and infrastructure: Rebuilt or rehabilitated more than 24 miles of streets, began work on another 25 miles, and advanced a $60 million five-year roads commitment.
Protected water reliability and taxpayers: Helped bring regional surface-water treatment operations under Turlock's shared-services plan, with approximately $850,000 in expected annual savings.
Secured stronger revenues: Helped negotiate a fairer county property-tax agreement that increased annual City revenue by approximately $1 million in its first year, while also advocating successfully for millions in outside funding.
Expanded opportunity for local businesses: Created the Turlock Business Partnership Incentive program, helping 45 businesses open and generating more than 100 permanent full-time jobs.
Invested in residents across generations: Supported the reconstruction of Columbia Pool and accessibility, safety, and gathering-space improvements at the Turlock Senior Center.
Made history and earned statewide recognition: Became Turlock's first woman mayor and the first retired police officer elected to the office and was named California Senate District 4 Woman of the Year in 2025.
Experience and Leadership
First elected to the Turlock City Council in 2008, Mayor Bublak made history in 2018 as Turlock's first woman mayor and the first retired police officer elected to the office. Her more than two decades in law enforcement shaped a leadership style grounded in preparation, accountability, and public safety. She pairs that experience with a collaborative approach, engaging residents, business owners, nonprofit and faith leaders, educators, retirees, labor organizations, civic groups, and City employees to ensure that decisions reflect the needs of the whole community.Delivering Results for Turlock
Working together, Mayor Bublak, the City Council, and City staff have transformed Turlock's financial stability into visible improvements for the community. Strong reserves help the City collectively safeguard essential services during periods of economic uncertainty, while the five-year road commitment reflects a shared effort to address long-deferred needs neighborhood by neighborhood.That same focus is strengthening water reliability and local control. Under a shared-services arrangement, Turlock assumed responsibility for regional surface-water treatment operations, a change expected to save approximately $850,000 annually. A fairer county property-tax agreement increased annual City revenue by approximately $1 million in its first year, while millions in outside funding provide added support for infrastructure, housing, public safety, parks, and essential services without placing the full burden on local taxpayers.
Public safety remains a central priority. Police staffing has grown from 78 to 90 officers, the Fire Department has reached full staffing, violent crime has declined 12.5 percent, and the most serious offenses tracked under the national reporting system have declined 17.2 percent.
The City has also modernized emergency response through three replacement fire engines, facility improvements, Qwake C-THRU helmets for firefighters, Emergency Operations Center upgrades, stronger fire-station networks, online reporting, crime mapping, prevention resources, and community-safety programs. A ladder truck is on order. Together, these investments strengthen readiness while making public-safety services more accessible to residents.
Investing in Every Generation
Mayor Bublak's focus on quality of life is evident in the reconstruction of Columbia Pool. The restored facility will expand access to recreation, swimming lessons, water safety, and family activities. She has described it as a promise of "a brighter, healthier, and more united future" for Turlock's children and community.She also believes a city's strength is measured by how it honors the residents who helped build it. Improvements to the Turlock Senior Center - including safer entrances, automatic door openers, refreshed gathering spaces, plumbing upgrades, and accessibility improvements - will help older residents remain active, independent, connected, and fully included in community life. These investments support dignity, friendship, wellness, and belonging.
Supporting Jobs and Local Enterprise
Mayor Bublak's commitment to local enterprise has deep roots. As a council member, she created the Turlock Business Partnership Incentive program in 2011, helping 45 businesses open and generating more than 100 permanent full-time jobs. That work continues through small-business grants, development incentives, employer outreach, and the annual Turlock Business Conference, which connects business owners with economic information, resources, regional partners, and one another.Education, Recognition, and Personal Discipline
A longtime Turlock resident and Stanislaus State graduate, Mayor Bublak earned bachelor's degrees in sociology and criminal justice and served two terms as student body president. A three-time NCAA Division III All-American in track and field, she set school records in the javelin and shot put and was inducted into the university's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001. She earned a Master of Public Administration in Urban Government from San Francisco State University in 2005.In March 2025, Mayor Bublak was named California Senate District 4 Woman of the Year in recognition of her public service, dedication to community safety, and work to strengthen Turlock. She has emphasized that the honor reflects the efforts of colleagues and a community committed to achieving results together.
The discipline needed to train and compete at an elite level also shapes her work as mayor. Setting goals, preparing consistently, responding to setbacks, and remaining focused under pressure are qualities she brings to public leadership and the pursuit of tangible progress for Turlock.
In 2023, she won gold medals in the javelin and shot put at the U.S. Police & Fire Championships. She then captured the women's javelin title at the World Police & Fire Games in Winnipeg, setting a world record.
Three years later, in June 2026, she again won gold medals in the women's javelin and shot put at the U.S. Police & Fire Championships in San Diego, representing Turlock and the Richmond Police Department, where she served for 13 years. She is preparing to represent the United States at the 2027 World Police & Fire Games in Perth, Australia - an achievement that reflects the consistency, competitiveness, and determination she brings to public service.
Local coaches, wellness professionals, community supporters, and Council member Erika Phillips have encouraged her return to national competition, helping her represent Turlock with excellence and bring the city positive visibility.
Community and Broader Service
Mayor Bublak is married to Dr. Milton Richards, former Stanislaus State athletic director and a Yosemite Community College District trustee. Her broader record of service includes leadership with the Stanislaus County Red Cross, three terms as Turlock's vice mayor, service as a member and chair of the Stanislaus Local Agency Formation Commission, and work as state legislative director for California Women for Agriculture.In 2019, she was appointed to the Social Problems Working Group, a subcommittee of the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice.
Leadership Commitments
Protect financial stability through balanced budgets, strong reserves, sound revenues, and transparent oversight.
Keep neighborhoods safe through well-supported police, fire, dispatch, emergency-preparedness, and prevention services.
Maintain dependable infrastructure by turning long-deferred street and water needs into funded projects and measurable milestones.
Support responsible growth that strengthens jobs, housing, public safety, and quality of life.
Make City Hall accessible and accountable through secure online services, public reporting, responsiveness, and practical results.
Her record has also earned endorsements from longtime community leaders. Stanislaus State mentor Walter E. Doraz described her as guided by "an ethical and moral code of fairness and justice" and cited her education, law-enforcement career, and service to Turlock as preparation for public office.
Turlock's Future
In every role, Mayor Bublak has shown resolve, resilience, accessibility, and an unwavering belief in Turlock's potential. For her, leadership is measured not by title but by promises kept, lives improved, and a stronger community. With Turlock residents as her partners and their priorities as her guide, she remains committed to a city where neighborhoods are safe, businesses can thrive, residents are valued, and families can look to the future with confidence.Her promise is simple: listen carefully, lead responsibly, and deliver a stronger Turlock for every generation.