Residents invited to engage in democracy

By Staff Report

Morgan Hill voters will have the opportunity to directly engage with local candidates in a series of upcoming public forums.

Organized by the Morgan Hill branch of the American Association of University Women and the city of Morgan Hill, the forums will be held on three consecutive Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Morgan Hill City Council Chambers, at 17555 Peak Ave. For those unable to attend, the events will be broadcast on the city of Morgan Hill’s YouTube channel.

“The November ballot will be complex, with candidates and issues at every level of government,” said Susan Rife, public policy chair for the AAUW club. “Voters should grab every chance to inform themselves about our local candidates and issues.”

Forum Schedule and Candidates

  • Sept. 12: Mayoral Candidates

– Incumbent Mark Turner

– Yvonne Martinez Beltran

  • Sept. 19: Morgan Hill Unified School District Trustee Candidates

– Trustee Area 5: Tyler Smith and Jennifer Marquez

– Trustee Area 6: Incumbent Mary Patterson and Rebecca Munson

– Trustee Area 7: Tom Pocus and Veronica Andrade

  • Sept. 26: City Council and Treasurer Candidates

– District A: David Dindak and Miriam Vega

– District C: Soraida Iwanaga and Michael Orosco

– Treasurer: Cindy Murphy and Raymon Saechao

Several incumbents will not seek re-election, including school board trustees Ivan Rosales Montes (Trustee Area 5), Adam Escoto (Trustee Area 7); and councilmembers Gino Borgioli (Council District A), and Rene Spring (Council District C).

Each forum will follow a standardized format. An AAUW facilitator will introduce the candidates, followed by a moderator who will direct pre-submitted questions to each candidate. To ensure fairness, all candidates will be held to strict time limits for responses.

Residents are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates by Sept. 8 via email to [email protected]. This presents a valuable opportunity for voters to have their concerns addressed directly by those seeking office, Rife said.

For those unsure about their trustee district, a helpful tool is available at www.morganhilltrusteeexplorer.azurewebsites.net.

As the November ballot will include candidates and issues at various levels of government, these forums offer an essential platform for voters to make informed decisions about local representation, Rife said. Residents are urged to take advantage of this opportunity to engage with the democratic process and shape the future of Morgan Hill.