Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Parker, Bilicich Deadlocked for Watsonville City Council Seat

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Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Parker, Bilicich Deadlocked for Watsonville City Council Seat

The race for the District 7 seat on the Watsonville City Council has been the tightest contest in all of Santa Cruz County this general election.

A mere 10 votes separate current District 7 representative Ari Parker and former Watsonville mayor Nancy Bilicich, 378-368, respectively, in early voting tallies provided by the County Elections Department Wednesday morning.

At one point, Parker had only a one-vote lead on Tuesday night.

There are still thousands of votes left to be counted. By the Elections Department’s estimation, there were 59,600 vote-by-mail ballots, 1,175 same-day registration ballots and 90 provisional ballots submitted this election. As of Wednesday, only 37,878 votes had been accounted for.

Parker, who is serving as mayor this year, said Tuesday night that the winner would likely not be determined until all the votes are counted—the election results are certified at the end of the month.

“It ain’t over until it’s over,” she said.

Parker was first elected to the city council in 2018, the same year Bilicich termed out of office and ran unsuccessfully for 4th District Santa Cruz County Supervisor.

Parker is a teacher at Bradley Elementary School.

Bilicich serves as the director of Watsonville/Aptos/Santa Cruz Adult Education.

The District 7 seat was the lone Watsonville City Council seat of four up for grabs that saw more than one candidate step forward. Casey Clark (District 5), Maria Orozco (District 3) and Kristal Salcido (District 4) all ran unopposed and will assume office next month.

According to the Elections Department, the next update to the voting tally will come Friday, Nov. 11, at 4pm.

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Timm-Timms Slate Leads Scotts Valley Vice Mayor Reed

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Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Timm-Timms Slate Leads Scotts Valley Vice Mayor Reed

At this time last year, Allan Timms wasn’t even an American. Now, in early voting results, he had risen above Scotts Valley’s Vice Mayor in his bid for a seat on the city council.

So, how did it feel to see some success around 9pm, as the vote tallies were starting to come in?

“Nervous,” he says during a celebratory gathering at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel on Scotts Valley Drive. “At least I know some people have voted for me.”

By 11:30pm, Councilmember Derek Timm, who served as mayor last year, was in first place with 978 votes—a resounding 40.11% share—while Timms had 774 votes (31.75%)—and Vice Mayor Jim Reed was at 674 votes (27.65%). Twelve people (.49%) had written in votes for other candidates.

Scotts Valley resident Steve Simonovich, owner of Santa Cruz Pasta Factory—who was at the party—says he supported both Timm and Timms because he felt they had a positive vision for the city, and believes they’d help Scotts Valley become more accepting of diversity.

“I voted for them because I felt that they represented the values that are most important to me and the Scotts Valley community in general,” he says. “I feel that we need to be more inclusive.”

Timm had set up a slate with Timms, who became a U.S. Citizen earlier this year, in order to oust Reed, who they argued wasn’t present enough in the community, in part due to his responsibilities as chief of staff to the San Jose mayor.

This story will be updated.

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Golder, Newsome Lead Santa Cruz City Council Races

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Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Golder, Newsome Lead Santa Cruz City Council Races

Early election results show Santa Cruz City Council incumbent Renee Golder taking a significant lead against opponent Sean Maxwell in the District 6 race, with 63.5% of the 1,265 votes accounted for as of 11:23pm.

Should she win the District 6 seat, Golder would be the first-ever representative of the brand new district, thanks to the new electoral system established earlier this year. District 6 encompasses the western part of the UCSC main campus and the parts of the Lower Westside.  

District 4 

Preliminary results show Scott Newsome claiming the lead for Santa Cruz City Council race to represent District 4, with 53.53% of the votes. The next closest candidate is Hector Marin, coming in with 29.17%.

The remaining candidates trail far behind, with Gregory Hyver capturing 8.23%, and Bodie Shargel grabbing 7.37% of the votes.

The new District 4 candidate will represent voters who live in Downtown, Beach Flats, part of the Upper Westside, east of Bay Street and south of High Street.

This story will be updated.

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Kalantari-Johnson Leads Cummings in Tight Race for 3rd District Supe

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Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Kalantari-Johnson Leads Cummings in Tight Race for 3rd District Supe

Update at 11:50pm

Justin Cummings inched closer to Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson in the race for 3rd District Santa Cruz County Supervisor, moving up .3% in the latest results.

The new results have Kalantari-Johnson with 53.62% of the vote, and Cummings with 45.5%. A total of 32,562 votes have been counted, 19.52% of the registered voters in Santa Cruz County.

Cummings says he isn’t worried: there are still votes to be counted, especially from last-minute voters and mail-in ballots. 

“It’s far from over,” says Cummings. “I’ve been reminding people of when I first ran in 2018. At the beginning of the night, I was in sixth place. I think by the end of that first night, I was in fourth. But by the end of the week, I was first.” 

Cummings expects to be popular among those last-minute voters, who he thinks might tend to be the younger university students. Those votes might not be counted until later this week, ahead of the second round of polling results that will be released Friday.

Original story at 9:55pm

The race for 3rd District Santa Cruz County Supervisor, pitting Santa Cruz City Council members Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson and Justin Cummings against one another, is turning out to be close. Kalantari-Johnson leads Cummings 53.87% to 45.23%, according to early results released Tuesday night. 

The victor of this race will make history. Cummings would be the first Black man elected to the Board of Supervisors, and Kalantari-Johnson would be the first woman of color to serve. Currently, the board is made up of five white men. 

Kalantari-Johnson holds key endorsements from outgoing Supervisor Ryan Coonerty, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart, and County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah. Her campaign pocket is significant: throughout her race, her campaign racked up donations and contributions of more than $118,000. Kalantari-Johnson ran on a platform that promised to prioritize education, affordable housing and business interests. 

Cummings touts himself as for the everyday worker. A renter himself, he has the backing of multiple labor unions, leftist party organizations, and a history of voting for and bringing forward minority issues and affordability projects on the city council. Comparative to Kalantari-Johnson, Cummings had closer to $65,000 to work within spending for his campaign.

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Santa Cruz Measures O, N Trail in Early Results

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Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Santa Cruz Measures O, N Trail in Early Results

Votes are still being counted, but Measure O, the controversial proposal that would scrap city plans for an updated downtown library, affordable housing and a new parking garage, is behind by 18 points.

As early results were posted, the No on Measure O campaign members let out tentative cheers in the corner of Abbott Square they staked out. But no one wanted to get their hopes up yet. 

“Certainly not time to celebrate, but I’m cautiously optimistic,” says former Santa Cruz Mayor Don Lane, a spokesperson for the No on O campaign. 

A vote in favor of the measure supports remodeling the current downtown library. It would keep the downtown farmers market at its current location, one of the fundamental tenets behind the initiative.

A vote against the measure supports the library project, a development in the works for over a decade. 

As of 11:20pm, 3,025 votes have been counted in favor and 4,181 against the measure. 

Should the measure pass, it is uncertain how it would be implemented. The measure designates eight city-owned lots for future affordable housing development, but an outside evaluation found only three of those lots to be feasible for housing projects. 

It would also cast uncertainty on the future of the library: the city found remodeling the current library to be more costly than building a new one and that updating the existing building would constrict the possibilities for affordable housing and other amenities, like a childcare center. 

Measure N 

The initial results for Measure N, which would tax second homes that are in use less than 120 days per calendar year, are looking grim for its passage.

So far, the measure has the support of only 36.6% of votes, with 63.4% of votes against the tax.

The measure, also known as the “Empty Home Tax,” broadly pitted affordable housing proponents against real estate agents and vacation homeowners.

Funds from the tax would be dedicated to affordable housing, and the campaign estimates the tax could generate millions for low-income housing. 

Opponents of the measure say similar taxes implemented in other cities have yielded inconclusive results.

The funding against the measure was significant. Santa Cruz Together, the committee leading the charge against Measure N, raised upwards of around $130,000, with nearly $50,000 coming from the California Association of Realtors.

This story will be updated.

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Keeley Jumps Out to Big Lead in Race for Santa Cruz Mayor

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Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Keeley Jumps Out to Big Lead in Race for Santa Cruz Mayor

Veteran politician Fred Keeley has grabbed a commanding lead on political newcomer Joy Schendledecker in the race for Santa Cruz’s mayorship; initial election results released Tuesday night showed.

The former Santa Cruz County supervisor and treasurer had amassed roughly 77% of the 7,448 votes that were accounted for as of 11:23pm.

Keeley, whose more than 50 years of experience in politics include a six-year stint as a state legislator, says that although there are still several hundred votes to count, he believes he will hold on to the big lead and assume office next month.

“I want to thank the voters of Santa Cruz, and I want to congratulate Joy Schendledecker on a principled campaign that she ran,” he says. “I look forward to working with the community on the problems of homelessness, affordable housing, drought-proofing our water system and reinvigorating our local economy.”

The new at-large mayoral office is a product of Santa Cruz’s shift to district elections and voters’ approval of Measure E earlier this year.

Santa Cruz will soon be governed by six city council members, each elected by their own slice of the city, and the mayor, a position previously determined on a rotating basis among the seven city council members.

This story will be updated.

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Watsonville’s Urban Growth Limit Extension Leads Countermeasure

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Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Watsonville’s Urban Growth Limit Extension Leads Countermeasure

More Watsonville voters have elected to extend the city’s urban growth boundaries for the next 18 years rather than head back to the drawing board and determine a new growth plan, according to initial election results released Tuesday night.

As of 8:16pm, 1,788 votes had been counted for both measures. Roughly 67% of those voters circled in “yes” for Measure Q, compared to the 54% of voters who elected to approve Measure S.

While both measures only need a simple majority for approval, the measure with the most “yes” votes will be the one that is approved.

Measure Q, the result of the committee’s signature-gathering process, proposed an 18-year extension of a so-called Urban Limit Line (ULL) approved by voters via Measure U in 2002. That ULL protected most of the agricultural land surrounding Watsonville from urban development by establishing a modest 25-year outward growth plan for housing and economic drivers. But some of the protections laid out in Measure U are set to expire this year, and the rest sunset in 2027.

Measure S, placed on the ballot by a divided Watsonville City Council in response to Measure Q, also proposed an 18-year extension of the ULL but would allow the council to make adjustments to the boundary during its upcoming general plan update—a massive, multi-month undertaking in which the community will determine what Watsonville should strive to be by 2050.

Measure Q proponents, led by the Committee for Planned Growth and Farmland Protection, told voters that their campaign is the only way to stop “urban sprawl” that would overtake the Pajaro Valley’s rich agricultural lands.

Meanwhile, Measure S proponents, a small collective spearheaded by a handful of city councilmembers, say that an extension of the current growth boundaries would negatively impact the city’s ability to build new homes and entice large employers to set up shop in Watsonville.

The second round of early results is expected sometime after 10pm.

This story will be updated.

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees

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Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees

Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Area 1 incumbent Kim De Serpa took an early—and significant—lead as early results poured in, showing a 66.1% lead over her opponent Natalain Schwartz.

In a small gathering at Cantine Winepub, De Serpa said she was looking forward to another term, if her lead holds.

“While campaigning is never easy, I appreciate the support of the community, and I will continue to help the students of the Pajaro Valley,” she said.

Trustee Area 5 incumbent Jennifer Schacher, meanwhile, is trailing opponent Olivia Flores by 83 votes, with Flores capturing nearly 54.2% of the vote so far.

Flores said she was hesitant to claim victory so early in the race.

“I want to respect the voters, and the votes that haven’t been counted yet,” she said.

This story will be updated.

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: California Propositions—So Far

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Nov. 8, 2022 Election: California Propositions—So Far

Proposition 1: Abortion

With early returns beginning to come in, Californians appear to be giving broad support to Proposition 1, which would place into the state Constitution a woman’s right to have an abortion. 

As of 11pm, more than 68% of voters have said yes to the proposition, according to the California Secretary of State. In Santa Cruz County, 81% of voters have so far said yes.

Proposition 26 and Proposition 27: Sports Betting at Indian Casinos

Voters are handing resounding defeats to laws allowing Native American tribes to offer in-person sports betting at their casinos under Proposition 26 and online sports betting under Proposition 27.

A whopping 70.5% of voters have so far rejected Prop 26, while 84.1% have said no to Prop 27, according to the Secretary of State.

Proposition 28: Money for Arts Education

Voters also appear to support a law that would require the state to set aside 1% of its education budget for arts education—roughly $1 billion—with 63% of voters saying yes. 

Proposition 29: Dialysis Clinics

For the third time, voters seem to be rejecting Proposition 29, which would require dialysis clinics to have a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant during treatment hours. Roughly 70% of voters have so far rejected the law. 

Proposition 30: Tax the Wealthy

This proposition would raise taxes by 1.75% on Californians making $2 million or more to help low-income people purchase zero-emissions vehicles, create charging stations for them and fund wildfire prevention programs. This one is closer, with 57.2% voting no.

Proposition 31: Ban on Flavored Tobacco

Retailers who sell candy-flavored tobacco and similar products could soon see their business curtailed, as 64.7% of voters have so far said yes. 

This article was updated at 11:32pm

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Hernandez Takes Lead on Dutra in 4th District Race

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Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Hernandez Takes Lead on Dutra in 4th District Race

Update at 12:03am (Wednesday)

Felipe Hernandez’s lead over Jimmy Dutra in the race for 4th District Santa Cruz County Supervisor has fallen slightly in the latest round of results.

Hernandez now leads Dutra with 54.67% of the vote. There have been 3,026 votes accounted for as of 11:23pm.

Original story at 8:34pm

According to initial results released Tuesday night, Felipe Hernandez has taken an early lead on Jimmy Dutra in the race for the 4th District Santa Cruz County Supervisor seat.

Hernandez, the former mayor of Watsonville and current member of the Cabrillo College Governing Board, secured 55.06% of the 1,951 votes that had been counted as of 8:16pm.

The early results are an inverse of the June 7 primary, when Dutra, a current Watsonville city councilman, took an early lead on Hernandez and nearly won the seat outright in a three-candidate race.

But much has changed since then, and Dutra’s campaign suffered a significant blow on Oct. 5 when a man filed a sexual assault lawsuit against Dutra, claiming that the candidate molested him when he was 12. 

Dutra has denied the allegations, calling them “baseless.”

Hernandez, 51, served as a councilman between 2012-2020. He ran unsuccessfully for the 4th District Supervisor seat in 2018, taking third in the primary that year.

If he hangs on, Hernandez would be the first Latino on the board of supervisors since Tony Campos was ousted in 2010 by outgoing Supervisor Greg Caput, who elected not to run for a fourth term earlier this year and endorsed Hernandez for the seat.

Dutra, 47, earned his second term on the city council in 2020. He served as mayor last year. His first term on the city council was from 2014 to 2018. He stepped away from politics after running unsuccessfully for the 4th District Supervisor seat in 2018—he placed a distant second behind Caput.

This story will be updated.

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Parker, Bilicich Deadlocked for Watsonville City Council Seat

Ten votes separate District 7 candidates
Read more

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Timm-Timms Slate Leads Scotts Valley Vice Mayor Reed

Scotts Valley City Councilman Derek Timm and political newcomer Allan Timms are in first and second place in early results
Read more

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Golder, Newsome Lead Santa Cruz City Council Races

Santa Cruz City Council candidates Renee Golder and Scotts Newsome hold significant leads
Read more

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Kalantari-Johnson Leads Cummings in Tight Race for 3rd District Supe

Conclusion of the race will mark historic moment for Santa Cruz County politics
Read more

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Santa Cruz Measures O, N Trail in Early Results

No On O campaign ‘cautiously optimistic’ after initial tally shows 19-point lead
Read more

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Keeley Jumps Out to Big Lead in Race for Santa Cruz Mayor

Former Santa Cruz County supervisor, state legislator has 77% of early votes
Read more

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Watsonville’s Urban Growth Limit Extension Leads Countermeasure

Both measures Q and S have over 50% approval, but the former holds more early votes
Read more

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees

De Serpa jumps ahead; Schacher barely trailing
Read more

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: California Propositions—So Far

Abortion protection law moves forward; casino betting props appear doomed
Read more

Nov. 8, 2022 Election: Hernandez Takes Lead on Dutra in 4th District Race

Former Watsonville mayor holds 55% of the early votes for key South County seat
Read more
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