The so-called “final, semi-official election night results” updated by San Benito County elections officials Wednesday evening showed that more than 51 percent of local registered voters cast a ballot in the general election, Â with 34 percent voting by mail. The election is not officially finalized yet, though some races are decided.
Measure J, the anti-fracking measure that garnered the most attention and most money during the election cycle and has already prompted a $1.2 billion claim against the county by Citadel Exploration, is guaranteed to pass, having garnered 58 percent of the vote. Measure M, a $28.5 million Hollister School District bond, has nearly 63 percent of the vote, comfortably ahead of the 55 percent needed for passage. It is the second local school bond to pass this year, following the $42.5 million Measure G San Benito High School District facilities improvement bond passed in June.
The race for District 4 County Supervisor tightened up a bit since election night results first came in, with incumbent Jerry Muenzer leading Hollister City, Councilman Victor Gomez by less than 1 percent — 50.32 percent to 49.47 percent — a difference of 29 votes. Incumbent Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez easily outpaced challenger Keith Snow 68-32 percent to win another term, while in District 2, Mickie Solorio Luna has a 5 percent edge on Victoria Montoya in the race to fill the seat vacated a few months ago by Robbie Scattini, who moved out of the district and ran for the District 3 seat. In that race, Scattini lost to political newcomer and local Realtor Karson Klauer, who earned 62 percent of the vote to Scattini’s 38 percent.
Challengers Jim West and Chris Martorana won two of the three available seats on the San Juan Bautista City Council, with incumbent Tony Boch earning the third spot. Mary McCullough and Josie Sanchez continued to lead in the race for two San Benito Health Care District director spots, while Danny Villalon and Mike Alcorn led in the race for two Sunnyslope County Water District director positions.
Among other local ballot measures, proposed transient occupancy tax increases in Hollister and San Benito County both lost handily, while Measure H, which would renew the local abandoned vehicle abatement program that charges $1 per registered vehicle and $2 per commercial vehicle, has 66.53 percent of the vote — with a two-thirds majority needed for passage. Measure K, which would have made the position of city treasurer and appointed rather than an elected one, lost 59 percent to 41 percent.
In other results from around the county:
In the Gavilan College race to represent Hollister, incumbent Kent Child and Lois Locci earned the two available seats, each finishing about 5 percent ahead of Elizabeth Dirks. Recently-retired San Benito High School teacher Juan Robledo earned 25 percent of the vote for the SBHS Board of Trustees, earning a term along with incumbents Bill Tiffany and Steve DeLay in the six-person race.
Incumbent Hollister School District board member Pat Moore earned the most votes in a seven-person race for three seats, followed by Peter D. Hernandez Jr. and incumbent Elsa Rodriguez, who outpaced fellow incumbent Lupe Navarro by just more than 100 votes out of 16,580 cast. In the North County School District race for two seats to help govern Spring Grove School, Ted Zanella had 36 percent of teh vote and Cindy King had 33 percent, an 18-vote lead over Rodney Bianchi. Margarida Rodrigues beat Richard Williams to fill a short-term position on the Panoche Governing Board, while Paul Limbach and Eric Gordon earned full terms on the board.
In the Southside School District, Scott Gilbert and Nikki Bell finished in a virtual tie for two of the three available board spots, with Martin Hernandez in third, just six votes head of Veronica Martinez.
Cecilia Rios was elected Hollister’s city treasurer and Robert Gilchrist Huenemann won a spot on the San Benito Water District board.
The race for a short-term seat on the Tres Pinos Water District is the closest in the county, with Robert Frusetta edging Anthony “Andy” Holiday 47 votes to 46 votes. Ed Schmidt and Michael Sargeant had the most votes for full-time Tres Pinos Water District board positions.
For complete San Benito County election results as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, click here.