Medical professional Jim Reape and local businesswoman Kelly Coelho have kicked off their campaigns for spots on the Turlock City Council.

Reape, who currently serves on the city’s planning commission, is looking to unseat Mayor Amy Bublak in the fall of 2026. Meanwhile, Coelho, a U.S. Army veteran who owns her own private investigation firm, is taking aim at the District 1 seat currently held by Councilmember Kevin Bixel.

Councilmember Cassandra Abram (District 3) also will be up for re-election next year, but has no opposition as of yet.

Reape, a former sergeant in the U.S. Air Force who served in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, is a physician’s assistant and nurse practitioner at Family Medical Group in Turlock. He held his campaign kickoff on April 29 at the home of supporter Nick Hackler. About 75 people attended.

“We had a nice, little meet-and-greet and I got to meet some new folks, so it was good,” said Reape, who served on former Mayor John Lazar’s Economic Development Committee, and the Active Transportation Committee. “Being on the planning commission, I’ve enjoyed that role and getting to offer some service, but it’s a pretty narrow scope.”

Reape plans to retire from the medical field next year.

“And my kids are all grown and buying their own groceries now, so I've got the time, I’ve got the energy and there’s an opportunity to improve things. I think it’s time for me to do it.”

Both Reape and Coelho say they’re not running against an incumbent, per se, but to propose new policies.

“I have a lot of respect for Kevin Bixel,” said Coelho. “But I refuse to sit on the sidelines, especially when broken promises and personal agendas divide our city. The city is tired of that, and I think I can utilize my strengths and implement them here in our city.”

Reape, too, said he respects the work Mayor Bublak has performed for the city over the years.

“She has served our community for a long time and I appreciate the work that she’s done, but I think a change in leadership style would be good,” said Reape, the father of five. “I’m a team-builder, and with 30 years in the medical field in Turlock I’ve developed a lot of relationships with people from all walks of life. I believe I have a lot of good will out there in the community that I can call on to bring people to gather to get some good things done.”

Reape said he’s in the process of developing a platform that will be released in the coming months. Coelho, meanwhile, listed six core values that will be the cornerstone of her campaign: improving public safety, supporting small business, addressing homelessness with real solutions, strengthening city infrastructure, increasing government transparency, and standing for families.

For more information on Coelho’s campaign, visit KellyCoehloforTurlock.com. For more information on Reape’s campaign, visit “Jim Reape” on Facebook.