Sentinel staff report–
As part of The Sentinel’s coverage of local elections, each Citrus Heights City Council candidate was asked a series of identical questions. The questions are designed to give candidates an opportunity to introduce themselves and give voters an opportunity to learn more about each candidate prior to voting.
Candidates replied via email, and those who responded to each question in less than 100 words have their answers published word-for-word. Answers exceeding 100 words were edited for length.
Find out which voting district you reside in here.
Q&A: Charles Stone, running for Citrus Heights City Council District 2
Please give us a short background about who you are, what your job/career is. How long have you lived in Citrus Heights?
I am a husband, father of two sons, Army veteran, retired law enforcement investigator, attorney, and a 25-year Citrus Heights resident. My wife and I married in 1999 while I attended McGeorge School of Law and raised our sons here. I spent 25 years as a California Environmental Protection Agency investigator, handling hundreds of complex cases before retiring in 2025. In 2007, I joined the Army National Guard as a JAG officer and deployed to Iraq in 2009, with additional military deployments during my service. Today, I remain committed to Citrus Heights and actively support local veterans through the American Legion and community service.
Why are you running for City Council?
AreaVibes.com gives Citrus Heights an overall D- rating, citing crime, homelessness, poor roads, and a lack of amenities as major concerns. These are the same issues I hear from residents throughout our city. I understand that public safety must be the City’s highest priority. Yet the City Council approved a reduction in authorized police staffing while putting 25% of our income into savings, even as the Sunrise Mall remains undeveloped. I am running for City Council because I believe Citrus Heights can do better by prioritizing public safety, improve our infrastructure and services, and finally move forward with the redevelopment of the Sunrise Mall.
What are two things you like most about living in Citrus Heights?
The two things I love most about Citrus Heights are the people and the food. I have traveled extensively, and one of the things that stands out about Citrus Heights is how friendly, welcoming, and down-to-earth our residents are. This community has a genuine sense of connection that I value deeply. And, of course, we have some great food!
What kind of volunteer work have you done for charities, churches or service organizations in the community?
I have volunteered extensively in Citrus Heights over the years. When my children were younger, my wife and I volunteered as coaches with Citrus Heights Soccer and Sunrise Baseball. As my sons grew older, I became involved in their interests, including trap and sporting clays and wrestling.
After returning from Iraq in 2010, I became involved with the American Legion. I have been a member of the Citrus Heights American Legion since 2010 and served as Commander from 2024 to 2026. Through the American Legion, I have had the opportunity to support local veterans and give back to the community that has been our home for 25 years.
What are three key principles that will guide your votes on the council?
- Take care of our people: That means reducing crime, supporting a fully staffed police department, and providing effective outreach services to residents who need help.
- Redevelop the mall: The Sunrise Mall should become a destination that brings people to Citrus Heights, creates jobs, generates revenue, and gives our community a place to gather.
- Improve city processes: We need to identify unnecessary delays and bureaucratic obstacles, improve efficiency, and find ways to save taxpayer money while delivering better services.
What are the top two things you’d like to change/improve in the next four years in Citrus Heights?
- Fully fund the Police Department: Public safety must be a top priority. Our officers need the staffing and resources necessary to protect our community effectively.
- Speed up redevelopment of the Sunrise Mall: We cannot afford to let this important piece of our city remain underutilized. We need to create a process that encourages responsible development and gets the project moving.
What are two votes the City Council has made that you disagree with, and why?
- Reducing authorized police staffing: I believe reducing the Police Department was the wrong decision. With 2,513 arrests in the city last year—an average of approximately 6.8 arrests per day—we should be giving law enforcement the resources necessary to address crime, not reducing our capacity to respond.
- Failing to move forward with redevelopment of the Sunrise Mall: I believe the City has been too involved in determining what businesses should or should not operate at the mall. While I may not always agree with what a particular developer proposes, I do not believe choosing individual businesses is the role of an elected official. The City’s role should be to establish reasonable rules and zoning regulations, ensure development meets those standards, and then allow the market and the developer to determine which businesses will succeed. A successful development creates jobs, attracts visitors, and generates tax revenue for our city.
*Answers to questions were edited for length. Candidates were given advanced notice regarding the requested length of questions.
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