The San Benito County Elections Office at 2:42 a.m. Wednesday morning reported that “semi-official” election night results are complete and the next update would come on Monday, Nov. 14. Officials said in the latest report of results that 12,185 of 28,222 registered voters in the county had cast a ballot, a 43.18 percent turnout.
The early-morning release of election results on Wednesday showed Measure W, the 20-year extension of a 1 cent sales tax in Hollister, along with school bonds Measures U and V with large enough percentages to be approved.
Measure W, the city of Hollister one-cent tax extension that would go into effect in 2018 and run for another two decades, received 78.08 percent of the vote. It needed 50 percent plus one vote for passage.
Incumbent Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez maintained his lead with nearly 69 percent of the vote, with his three-time challenger Keith Snow garnering just over 31 percent of the vote. Measure U, which would allow the San Benito High School District to issue $60 million in bonds to continue upgrades to the nearly 3,000-student Hollister campus, had 61.64 percent of the vote, ahead of the 55 percent needed for passage.
Measure V, which would authorize the Hollister School District to issue $36 million in bonds that would in part be used to build a new campus in the Santana Ranch housing development, had 62.92 percent of the vote, also 5 percent above the needed percentage.
In the race for the District 4 seat on the Hollister City Council being vacated by Victor Gomez, Roy Sims II reversed early election night results to pull ahead of Tim Burns 53.78 percent to 45.71 percent, a 142 vote difference.
In the San Juan City Council race, for which two seats are available, challenger John Freeman led among four candidates with 31.12 percent of the vote, followed by challenger and former councilman Dan DeVries at 30.12 percent. If the results hold up, incumbents Rick Edge, who had 23.92 percent of the vote, and Robert Lund, with 14.70 percent, would lose their spots on the council.
Connie Schobert had approximately 56.33 percent of the votes for San Juan city clerk, about 13 percent ahead of Yolanda Delgado.
The San Benito Health Care District race, featuring Dr. Ariel Hurtado challenging longtime incumbent Gordon Machado, showed Hurtado well ahead with 78.09 percent of the vote with all six precincts reporting.
The seven-person race for two seats on the San Benito High School Board of Trustees showed the two candidates endorsed by the district teachers’ association — Patty Nehme and John Corrigan — ahead with all 46 precincts reporting. Nehme garnered 18.98 percent of the vote and Corrigan earned 18.38 percent. If the results hold, current board president Ray Rodriguez, who received 16.5 percent of the vote, would lose his seat on the board. Other candidates were former Trustee Mary Encinias (16.64 percent), Jennifer Coile (12.32 percent), retired SBHS teacher Frank Muro (12.07 percent) and Ellen Miller (4.96 percent).
The Hollister School District Board race for two seats had incumbent Elizabeth Martinez ahead with 41.82 percent of the vote, followed by challenger Robert Bernosky at 30.84 percent. Appointed incumbent Mike Baldwin, who had campaigned with Martinez, was in third with at 27.01 percent with 34 of 34 precincts reporting.
The race to represent San Benito County on the Gavilan College Board of Trustees showed Rachel Perez well ahead of Danielle Davenport 77 percent to 23 percent, with all seven precincts reporting.
Four candidates seeking three trustee seats on the Aromas/San Juan Bautista School District had a tight race, with Jennifer Colby leading with 26.94 percent of the vote, followed by Drew McAlister at 26.16 percent, Monica Martinez-Guaracha at 24.45 percent and Shary Greene at 22.29 percent.
In the race for two seats on the Sunnyslope County Water District board, Robert James Rodriguez II had 35.59 percent of the vote, Dave Meraz had 32.21 percent, and Honor Spencer had 31.83 percent of the vote — 21 votes behind Meraz — with all 15 of 15 precincts reporting.
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To see statewide election results, click here.