MABTON -- A small city in the midst of political and financial turmoil awaits its next mayor.

Four people want the job.

Three candidates are challenging Mayor Velva Herrera for the $500-per-month post in the Aug. 18 primary election. They are Vanessa Cervantes, Daniel Jun and Angel Reyna.

Reyna is a current city councilman.

The top two vote-getters will advance to the November general election.

The winner will take the reins of a city mired with budget problems, a history of conflict among leaders and several holes in city staff.

The city of about 2,000 residents is reeling from a July 1 state audit that said leaders -- namely Herrera -- mismanaged the city's $1.5 million budget.

The audit, which covered 2004 to 2008, said the city overspent in numerous areas nearly every year. In 2006, city officials did not retain budget amendment information so auditors couldn't tell.

The audit also found times when bank statements were off by more than $120,000.

The audit dinged Herrera individually for falling as much as $600 behind on her residential utility bill at one point and for granting salary increases to then-Police Chief Robert Perales without approval from City Council.

Council wrote Perales out of the 2009 budget.

Meanwhile, council members have openly criticized Herrera, mayor of the city since 2005, on many of the same issues and for not providing them a clear picture of the city's finances.

They have imposed a hiring freeze on the city, which currently has no city clerk-treasurer and only one paid police officer. The city is contracting a temporary clerk-treasurer and using some reserve officers.

* Ross Courtney can be reached at 509-930-8798 or rcourtney@yakimaherald.com.

Vanessa Cervantes

Age: 29

Occupation: Artz-Fox Elementary School secretary

Previous office: None

Education: Bachelor's degree in social sciences from Washington State University

Vanessa Cervantes said accountability and "positive energy" are the two major planks in her platform.

She said residents and city leaders have been focusing so much energy on differences, she quit attending City Council meetings, which occasionally deteriorate into bickering.

"It's almost like you can't address issues without arguing," she said.

Cervantes also believes she would be more financially accountable to residents than current leaders, although she stopped short of blaming Mayor Velva Herrera for the problems listed in the audit report.

"It never seems to be anyone's fault," she said.

She said her work for the schools has given her experience and training in managing public funds.

She believes the city needs at least a part-time administrator in addition to the city clerk-treasurer, but believes the police department can make do without a chief as long as it has a leader in the department. The department also needs more officers, she said.

She also would lobby for recreation opportunities, such as youth sports. The community has a nonprofit wrestling program and AAU basketball.

"I have three boys and I take them out of town for everything," she said.

Cervantes has held numerous volunteer roles in the community, including board positions of the former Lions Club and the community center. She also coaches youth sports and serves as this year's chairwoman of a committee organizing National Night Out.

Velva Herrera

Occupation: Caregiver for the mentally challenged at the Sunnyside Housing Authority

Previous office: Mayor of Mabton

Velva Herrera's four-year term as the mayor of Mabton has been rocky.

Frequent clashes with City Council members, staff turnover and accusations of financial mismanagement are a sampling of her tenure. The critical July audit report was only the latest episode.

Herrera, who grew up in Mabton, did not return several phone and e-mail messages for this story.

She took office in 2005 after beating incumbent Dave Conradt and another challenger. Before that, she had served 10 years as a city councilwoman.

Herrera, in her 50s, has been behind a lot of the staff turnover. In 2006, she fired City Administrator Ildia Jackson, a position the city never filled.

The next year, Herrera fired Sharon Roy, the long-time city clerk-treasurer. Last year, Herrera hired Kitty Zavala, but Zavala resigned this spring.

Herrera hired police Chief Robert Perales in 2006. Council members accused him of overspending the police budget and criticized Herrera for raising his pay without consulting with them. They eliminated his position in the 2009 budget.

There have been bright spots, too. In 2007, Herrera successfully led the council through an annexation of 200 acres that included Northwest Horticulture, a nearby nursery. Estimates at the time indicated it would boost the city's property tax revenue by more than $100,000.

Herrera shares her Mabton home with extended family and helps care for her parents who also live in the community.

She has volunteered to work on Habitat for Humanity homes in Mabton.

Daniel Jun

Age: 60

Occupation: Business owner

Previous office: None

Education: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Inha Institute of Technology in Inchon, Korea

Daniel Jun's top issue is financial accountability.

He heavily criticizes both Mayor Velva Herrera and the current council members for allowing the budget to spin so far out of control.

"How can you use money you don't have over four years?" he said.

Jun's family owns the C&D Market in Mabton, and he has owned a telecommunications installation and supply company in San Francisco. He said that his experience would help him manage city finances.

He applied for the clerk-treasurer position last year, a job that went to Kitty Zavala, who has since resigned.

He said the city should fill its staff by combining the clerk-treasurer position with an administrator, as well as putting the council members to work in volunteer roles. He also would try to seek county and state grants to help.

But he believes the city should hire nobody until the financial picture is more clear.

He does not believe the city needs a police chief, as long as somebody is appointed as a leader in the police department.

Jun also said he would try to draw job-creating businesses to Mabton by attracting a wider variety of agriculture. He also owns a start-up export-import business that works with Korean businessmen. He believes he can find a market for Mabton-grown products.

He also would hold a town hall-style meeting to collect ideas for it.

Angel Reyna

Age: 32

Occupation: Director of Workforce Education for Yakima Valley Community College

Education: Master's degree from Washington State University in educational administration.

Previous: Mabton City Council since 2004.

Angel Reyna says he is running for mayor because he wants to see Mabton grow financially.

The lifelong Mabton resident envisions attracting elements of the wine industry and the wind power industry. He says experience from his job, which involves working with economic development groups, would serve him in that capacity.

Reyna also touts his history of demanding accountability, noting he was the one who first brought up Mayor Velva Herrera's controversial delinquent water bill in a City Council meeting. He also says he often criticized her for overspending.

"I think that one of my strong points is holding people accountable," he said.

Reyna said the city needs some form of an administrator, but not full time. The post should be combined with the city clerk or contracted out for a day or two a week, he said.

He also said the city, as soon as its finances are straightened out, should hire a police chief, then work its way back to 24-hour police coverage using a combination of reserves and fulltime officers.

Reyna is giving up his spot on City Council Position 3 to run for mayor.

Reyna has coached AAU basketball and participated as a guest on several Radio KDNA broadcasts.