Meet the candidates running for Folsom City Council District 3

Folsom voters will decide on Nov. 3 who they want to represent the city's District 3 on the City Council. The district covers neighborhoods in the fast-growing area south of Highway 50 and areas on the eastern section of the city. The two candidates running to represent District 3 are incumbent Sarah Aquino and Jagadish "Jag" Nagendra. Sarah Aquino: Sarah Aquino grew up in Fair Oaks and attended California State University, Sacramento and works as a licensed health and life insurance agent. Aquino was first elected to the city council in 2018, and served as Mayor in 2020 and 2025. Before her time on the council, she also served four years on the Folsom-Cordova School Board. During her time as Mayor, Aquino prioritized being accessible to the public by having weekly office hours, urging people to text or call with questions or concerns and created "Monday's Minute with the Mayor" on social media where she talked about city issues. Aquino is married to John, a retired middle school PE teacher; the couple has two adult children. Here are her answers to our questions: When you visualize how you would like Folsom to be in the future, what do you see? What are your long-term hopes for the city? I see a clean, safe and diverse community with great amenities, well-maintained parks and trails, and a vibrant local economy. I see less congestion on our roadways because we've completed long-awaited infrastructure projects and expanded our use of roundabouts and traffic lights with flashing yellow arrows to keep cars moving. (Four such lights were recently installed on Natoma Street as a pilot project.) I see mature landscaping in Folsom Ranch with a bustling town center that draws residents from all over the city. I also see a walkable, eclectic Central District and a College District that appeals to young adults. I see Folsom as the healthcare and technology hub of the region and a recreation destination. Are you content with the trajectory the city of Folsom is on? If not, what would you want to change? Folsom is experiencing some growing pains, but we are addressing our challenges head on. We made some tough budget decisions last year, but they paid off. Our revenues exceed expenses, we have a healthy reserve, and we are chipping away at our deferred maintenance. We have great leaders in all departments and city hall is hyper-focused on providing great customer service. We're investing in our aging infrastructure and delivering projects. I'm extremely optimistic about Folsom's future. Folsom is one of the faster growing cities in the state and has undergone a huge amount of development, yet many longtime residents yearn to hold onto the small town feel of the city. How do you as a city council member hope to reconcile those two dynamics and is that even possible as more people move into the region? In some ways we are a victim of our own success. People want to live here because we've got safe neighborhoods, great schools and a very high quality of life. The area south of Highway 50 was annexed before I joined the council, but my goal is to make it look and feel like it's always been part of Folsom. To that end, we're working hard to deliver the parks, trails and amenities that are synonymous with Folsom. At the same time, I'm opposed to annexing any additional land that would expand our city's borders. We've got enough on our plate; we don't need to take on more. Some would argue that we've already lost that small town feel, but I disagree. Vacation checks offered by the police department, Santa's sleigh driving through neighborhoods during the holidays and the city's 80th birthday party held earlier this year are examples of things we do to hold on to that small town feel. The Historic District ice rink with the Christmas tree in the middle looks like it's straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting! What is something about you that people may not learn in campaign ads? Do you have a unique hobby for instance? What do you like to do in your free time? In my free time I love to garden, entertain, read and play games. I get together with friends weekly to play Hearts, and I learned how to play mahjong earlier this year. I grew up in Fair Oaks and often run into childhood friends while working my "fun job" at Back Bistro. My husband and I have two grown children and one very spoiled labradoodle. We hosted an exchange student from Folsom's sister city, Pieve del Grappa, Italy, earlier this year. Jagadish "Jag" Nagendra: Jagadish "Jag" Nagendra immigrated to the United States from Bangalore, India in 2000 in pursuit of opportunity. He says at the heart of his life is his family; Jag has been married to his wife Shyla for more than 33 years. The couple have a son, Aditya, who is now married to Anusha. Jag's career involves 35 years of leading teams, managing complex infrastructure programs and working as a problem solver in both the private and public sectors. Nagendra has also devoted 15 years to community service through nonprofit leadership, involvement with city and county commissions, volunteering and more. Here are Jag's answers to our questions: When you visualize how you would like Folsom to be in the future, what do you see? What are your long term hopes for the city? I picture a young family in Folsom Ranch walking to a finished neighborhood park and library, not plans still sitting on a map. I picture a longtime Empire Ranch resident who still feels heard as the city grows. I see local businesses thriving, so residents spend their money here instead of in neighboring cities. My long-term hope is a Folsom where everyone feels safe, valued and included. A city that is financially strong because it planned ahead. Streets and parks maintained before they fall apart. Kids who grow up here can afford to stay, and seniors can age in the community they helped build. Most of all, I hope residents trust City Hall. That trust comes from a budget people can understand, decisions made in the open and leaders who keep listening long after Election Day. Are you content with the trajectory the city of Folsom is on? If not, what would you want to change? I love this city, and a lot is going right. But I am not content. Folsom faces a structural deficit, deferred maintenance keeps growing and too many sales tax dollars leave town. Trust also took a hit when the council raised its own pay during a time of financial strain. I would push for a simple budget dashboard showing cuts and increases by service, honest reporting on deferred maintenance, a careful review of city contracts and a fresh start on economic development. I would consider a modest half-cent sales tax only after cuts that spare core services, with a short sunset, resident oversight, and voters having the final say. I'm one of five votes, so I would work to build consensus among my fellow council members to move Folsom forward. Folsom is one of the faster growing cities in the state and has undergone a huge amount of development, yet many longtime residents yearn to hold onto the small town feel of the city. How do you as a city council member hope to reconcile those two dynamics and is that even possible as more people move into the region? Yes, but it won't happen on its own. After two and a half years of knocking doors in District 3, I hear two concerns. Established neighborhoods worry about traffic and whether services can keep up. Folsom Ranch families are still waiting on parks and amenities. Both want a city that feels like home. Small-town feel was never about population. It is about knowing your neighbors and feeling like City Hall knows your name. We can protect that as we grow. That means infrastructure that keeps pace with development, faster delivery of Folsom Ranch parks and a library, and growth that pays its fair share. It means protecting the Historic District, our trails and open space. And it means staying close to people. I've committed to meeting residents twice a month in public and creating a District 3 suggestion box. A city feels small when people feel heard. What is something about you that people may not learn in campaign ads? Do you have a unique hobby for instance? What do you like to do in your free time? Most people don't know I love to cook. I'm a vegetarian, and some of my happiest evenings are spent in the kitchen with my wife, Shyla, making dishes I grew up with in Bangalore and sharing them with friends. After more than 33 years of marriage, it's still one of our favorite places to be together. I enjoy hiking our trails and playing golf, though the game humbles me more than I'd like. My bigger passion is helping people find their voice. I'm a Distinguished Toastmaster, I've coached emotional intelligence and public speaking for over ten years, and I mentor small business owners through SCORE. Watching someone who was nervous to speak stand up and own the room never gets old. It taught me that listening well matters more than talking well. That's what I'll bring to City Hall.