Voters also passed county’s Measure A tax, Gav’s $248 M Measure X bond

Published in the November 21 – December 4, 2018 issue of Morgan Hill Life

Voters Nov. 6 approved Measure X, the Gavilan College $248-million facility bond, and Measure A, which renewed the county’s one-eighth percent sales tax. Rich Constantine will be Morgan Hill’s next mayor, replacing Steve Tate who has served on the city as a councilmember or as mayor for more than 20 years.

Measure X raises money that will continue the progress made by the 2004 Measure E. It will cost $25 per $100,000 of assessed property and will require a citizens’ oversight committee and a project list so the community will know exactly how and when the money will be spent. It required a 55 percent approval to pass and received from South Valley voters 22,775 yes votes (61.92 percent) to 15,511 no votes (38.08 percent). In San Benito County, also in the Gavilan district, it received 8,503 yes votes (53.24 percent) to 7,467 no votes (46.76 percent).

“This is a very exciting event in the history of Gavilan College,” said Kathleen Rose, Gavilan president/superintendent. “We want to thank everyone who was a part of this effort — first of all, the voters who showed up and voted yes on X, and those who volunteered to walk districts, put out fliers, make phone calls, and attend events…. Even if you did not vote for Measure X, we thank you for your participation in the process and invite you to be involved with Gavilan College as we move forward together.”

Measure A renews the one-eighth cent (0.125 percent) sales tax to fund general city purposes. It passed with 406,070 (73.91 percent) to 143,305 votes (26.09 percent).

Rich Constantine

In the mayoral race, voters selected Rich Constantine to be the top leader of the city government with 6,889 votes (46.38 percent). Candidates Greg Sellers received 6,342 (42.70 percent) and Kirk Bertolet receive 1,623 votes (10.93 percent).

Constantine said he is excited about rolling up his sleeves and getting started as the new mayor when he’s sworn in Dec. 12.

“I’ll be looking at business retention and expansion, with an emphasis on improving reliable high speed Internet for our community,” he said. “Exploring options for affordable housing will also be an early priority to tackle. Many of these issues will work interdependently and I expect we’ll be looking at solutions for Morgan Hill with a holistic approach in mind instead of items in isolation.”

Yvonne Martinez-Beltran

In city council District B, voters selected Yvonne Martinez Beltran with 1,672 votes (52.60 percent). Candidates Matt Loewenstein received 902 votes (28.37 percent) and Ken Murray received 605 votes (19.03 percent).

Beltran said she ran a grassroots campaign focusing on her Morgan Hill roots and that her experience as a planning commissioner contributed to her win. She plans to work with an open and inclusive style to engage residents and those often underrepresented.

“The results overwhelmingly show my message resonated and Morgan Hill is changing how we see our future,” she said. “I’m eager to hit the ground, work hard addressing housing, economic development and public safety and finding common ground on important issues.

As of press time Friday Nov. 16, the race for city council District D, which covers the eastern area of Morgan Hill, was too close to be determined, with candidates Julie Makrai Hutcheson and John McKay within 23 votes of each other with 90 percent of the ballots counted.

McKay was slightly ahead in the race with 1,605 votes (36.87 percent) compared to Makrai Hutcheson with 1,582 votes (36.34 percent). Candidate and former city councilmember Marilyn Librers received 1,166 votes (26.79 percent).

There is a possibility that this race might face a recount depending on the final vote tally. The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters will allow a second-place candidate to call for a free recount if the difference with the winner is 25 or less votes or less than 1 percent of the total vote difference.

Four seats were on the line for the Morgan Hill Unified School District board. Heather Orosco was the only person to file for Trustee Area 3.

In TA-1, Wendy Sullivan won with 1,418 votes (38.56 percent). Peter Mandel received 1,307 (35.55 percent), and Emma Nunez received 952 votes (25.89 percent).

In TA-2, the race is still close: John Horner won with 1,238 votes (37.81 percent) and Tara Bevington received 1,216  votes (37.14 percent). Enrique Navarro-Deonnellan received 456 votes (13.93 percent) and James B. Dill received 364 votes (11.12 percent).

In TA-4, Carol Gittens won with 1,529 votes (53.04 percent). Jill Provencal received 1,002 votes (34.76 percent) and Robert Guynn received 352 votes (12.21 percent).

In TA-5, Vanessa Sutter won with 1,807 votes (60.37 percent). Angelica Diaz received 1,186 votes (39.63 percent).

In the Santa Clara County Board of Education race for Trustee Area 7, Claudia Rossi won by receiving 40,457 votes (56.99 percent) votes to opponent Gino Borgioli’s 30,532 votes (43.01 percent).

Claudia Rossi

Returning to the board, Rossi said she is committed to establishing a strong and expanded South County presence to help young people.

“Our Opportunity Youth Academy located in Gilroy is carrying out its mission to recapture students who dropped out of high school and support their path to higher education and/or gainful employment,” she said. “I will continue to advance my goal to establish a South County Annex. Recognizing the imperative of investing resources in Early Childhood Education, I will work with County Office of Education to expand these programs for our families.”

In the Gavilan Community College Board of Trustees race, former Gilroy Unified School District Superintendent Edwin Diaz received 6,327 votes (66.70 percent) to incumbent Walt Glines who received 3,159 votes (33.30 percent).

Diaz said he appreciates the confidence voters have in selecting him.

“The community college system plays a critical role in many students’ lives and during the past few months I have learned about the many successful programs Gavilan College provides,” he said. “I have also learned of the opportunities to provide more and better experiences to students, be a leader for the education community, and be a source of pride for all of South County.”

Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith keeps her job for a sixth term with 275,052 votes (55.44 percent) to opponent John Hirokawa’s 221,090 votes (44.56 percent).

In state government Robert Rivas will fill the state assembly seat vacated by Anna Caballero. In national government, Democrats Jimmy Panetta and Zoe Lofgren will return to serve in the House of Representatives.

Editor’s note: the vote numbers are accurate as of 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 16.