Mayor Constantine, councilmembers Carr, Spring seek re-election; Treasurer Clink will not run for seat

By Staff Report

Candidates for open seats on the Morgan Hill City Council and the Morgan Hill Unified School District are stepping into the campaign ring to run in the November general election.

As of noon Aug. 7, the last day for candidates to file with the Santa Clara County Registrar of Votes, here are individuals listed on the county’s website who have done so.

For mayor, incumbent Rich Constantine is the only candidate listed.

For City Council District A, the candidates are Larry Carr (the incumbent) and Julie Raia.

For District C, Rene Spring (the incumbent) and Juan Miguel Munoz-Morris have filed. For City Treasurer, the only candidate is Caitlin Jachimowicz. Incumbent David Clink decided not to seek re-election.

For MHUSD Trustee Area 5, the candidates are Ivan Rosales Montes and Pam Torrisi.

For MHUSD Trustee Area 6, the only candidate is Mary Patterson (the incumbent).

For MHUSD Trustee Area 7, the only candidate is Adam Escoto (the incumbent).

  • Constantine said in a statement sent to Morgan Hill Life the ability to work effectively with the county and the state on issues ranging from COVID-19 management to maintenance of the right to control the local rate of growth will be critical concerns for him as mayor.

“I am committed to continuing to advocate for our restaurants and businesses to open and operate safely, to listen to the concerns and needs of all of our citizens and to fight for and advocate for you each and every day,” he said.

  • Carr is running for re-election with a goal of rebuilding the local economy and helping businesses re-open safely through the COVID-19 crisis. He also wants to address issues of equity within our community, limit growth, support public safety, protect open space and agricultural resources, and continue making downtown a vibrant centerpiece to our community.

“Morgan Hill is at an inflection point in our history,” he said in his ballot statement. “We need leaders who are ready for the challenges and have the proven record to take advantage of opportunities.

  • Raia is a licensed marriage/family therapist for more than two decades, and a resident of Morgan Hill for 13 years. She said she is a strong advocate for improving mental health programs for at-risk youth.

“With everything going on in our city, the state, the county, and the world, I felt compelled to effect a change from a grassroots perspective, with an open heart, mind, and the willingness to represent the needs, hopes, and dreams of the people in District A and Morgan Hill at large,” she said.

  • Spring has resided in Morgan Hill for 16 years and has been involved as a volunteer, as well as a former board member of well-known local nonprofit organizations.

“I firmly stand for slower, more responsible residential growth; one that promotes a fiscally sustainable community and does not overstretch our public services or lose valuable natural resources,” he said in a statement. “Unfortunately, this has become an up-hill battle due to recent state laws enacted.”

  • Munoz-Morris visited Morgan Hill 20 years ago and fell in love with the city because it reminds him of his birthplace near Granada, Spain. He has served on the Planning Commission for the past three years and works as a contracting professional for Santa Clara County Social Services Agency.

As a city councilmember, he wants to help residents and businesses recover from COVID-19.

“The city is adapting to new state emergency housing laws and must balance its budget and restore cut services,” he said. “Residents want transparency and accountability. I am confident in my ability to lead and work with our community, mayor, councilmembers, and city staff.”

  • Jachimowicz grew up in Morgan Hill where she is an attorney, a board member for the Edward Boss Prado Foundation and the mother of two children. She is running for city treasurer because she is concerned about the economic future of the city and wants to “shed light” on the budget, city finances, and tax structures.

“The city is projecting over $17 million in shortfalls due to the pandemic and unfunded liabilities.  We need to have tough conversations about our priorities,” she said in her statement.

If no incumbent files to run in a specific race, the deadline is extended five days.