County Registrar releases final list of candidates qualified for election

Morgan Hill mayor, city treasurer taken off ballot as they are running unopposed

By Staff Report

The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters released its final list of candidates who stepped into the campaign ring for the November general election. Here are those who qualified to appear on the ballot for South Valley races.

For City Council District A, the candidates are Larry Carr (the incumbent), Gino Borgioli, and Julie Raia. For District C, Rene Spring (the incumbent) and Juan Miguel Munoz-Morris have qualified.

For the Morgan Hill Unified School District 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 appointed incumbent).

For Morgan Hill mayor, incumbent Rich Constantine is the only candidate qualified on the ballot.

Former city councilmember Caitlin Robinett Jachimowicz is the only candidate for city treasurer.

At a special virtual meeting held Wednesday, Aug. 19, the Morgan Hill City Council approved resolutions appointing Constantine as mayor and Jachimowicz as treasurer.  Due to the lack of any opponents those positions will be removed from the Nov. 3 ballot. This will save the city about $56,000 in its general fund that otherwise would have gone to election costs.

Candidates for other races in the South Valley include seats open for the Gavilan Community College board of trustees, the Gilroy City Council and the Gilroy Unified School District.

For Gavilan’s Trustee Area 2, incumbent Jonathan Brusco, a school administrator and teacher, is the only candidate who qualified. He is a resident of Morgan Hill. For Trustee Area 4, incumbent Mark Dover, a teacher and education administrator, and Patricia Mondragon, an educator, qualified. They are both residents of Gilroy. For Trustee Area 6, Gilroy resident Rachel Perez, is the only candidate qualified on the ballot.

For the race for the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority District 1, Alex Kennett (incumbent) and Robert Howell have qualified for the ballot.

In the race for Gilroy’s mayor, Marie Blankley and Reid Lerner will run against each other. Mayor Roland Velasco announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election for that position.

On a statewide level, for the 17th state district, which includes Morgan Hill, San Martin, and Gilroy, Vicki Nohrden (a Republican) and John Laird (a Democrat) have qualified for the ballot. Current State Senator Bill Monning has been termed out.

For the 30th state assembly, which includes Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy, incumbent Robert Rivas (a Democrat) and Gregory Swett (a Republican) are qualified on the ballot.

On a national level, for the 19th congressional district, which includes Morgan Hill, San Martin, and Gilroy, incumbent Zoe Lofgren (a Democrat) and businessman Justin James Aguilera (a Republican) are qualified on the ballot. County voters will also need to decide on two parcel tax measures that will be on the Nov. 3 ballot. Both require a two-thirds majority to pass.

Measure S is a parcel tax for the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program. It reads:

Shall the measure to renew the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program which ensures public health and safety by: protecting drinking water supply, dams from earthquakes and climate change; reducing pollution, toxins and contaminants in waterways; and providing flood protection; by renewing Santa Clara Valley Water District’s existing parcel tax without increasing rates, averaging $.006 per square foot annually as described in Resolution 20-64 until ended by voters, raising approximately $45,500,000 annually, with qualifying senior exemption, annual audits, independent citizen oversight be adopted?

Measure T is a parcel tax for the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. It reads:To continue protecting and preserving natural open spaces without increasing tax rates by: managing land and water to reduce wildfires and floods; protecting land around creeks to prevent pollution and improve water quality; creating urban parks;  preserving wildlife habitats; and, preserving family farms, and healthy food sources; shall the measure to renew Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority’s existing $24 annual parcel tax with no increase, generating approximately $8,000,000 annually, until ended by voters, with oversight/audits, be adopted?