There are some races where a winner can be called, then there
are those that must wait.
A record turnout, long lines when the polls closed and more
paper ballots have the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters
working overtime.
And, it may not be until noon today when final results are
available.
There are some races where a winner can be called, then there are those that must wait.
A record turnout, long lines when the polls closed and more paper ballots have the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters working overtime.
And, it may not be until noon today when final results are available.
“County-wide, we won’t have all semi-final election results until tomorrow morning between 9 a.m. and noon,” Elma Rosas, Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters spokeswoman said just before midnight. Workers at the registrar will be counting votes all night until the races are decided, she said.
“We’re talking a much greater number of everything, from voters to more people in line at 8 o’clock to more paper ballots. It’s all just very time consuming,” Rosas said, adding the predicted turnout for the county was 80 to 85 percent.
Since the state resorted back to paper ballots, it’s taking longer, Rosas said, though every polling site in the county is required to have one electronic voting machine.
In early results, the $150 million Gilroy school bond which promises to deliver a second comprehensive high school campus to the city jumped out to a significant lead. With 24 of 41 precincts reporting, Measure P led comfortably 65 to 35 percent, far greater than the 55 percent needed for passage.
“Even though the results aren’t final, I’m very happy about Measure P so far,” Trustee Rhoda Bress said. She spent the last few days promoting the measure and herself for school board. “I think this community has come through again. This community continues to send a strong message about the value they place on public school education.”
The passage of five other school taxes in the county also seemed likely with several claiming 70 percent or more of the vote.
Rosso hosted a joint Measure P – school board race party at his home in Tuesday evening. His guests – trustees, school officials and their families – gravitated between the computer screen, the television and the refreshments, waiting for any update on Measure P or the school board race.
“What the heck is going on,” Trustee Denise Apuzzo said after a promised update didn’t come.
“I’m so tired right now I can barely do basic math,” said Superintendent Deborah Flores, dressed in a track suit and tennis shoes, as she leaned over Perales’ shoulder to peer at the unchanged election results.
CHS Principal John Perales, his wife Leighan, and Lanny Brown – retired assistant police chief and a member of the Measure P campaign committee – were glued to Rosso’s computer Tuesday night. Once every few seconds, Perales clicked the refresh button to see if the results had been updated.
“He’s refreshing every 15 seconds,” Leighan Perales said.
A no vote on P a could leave a half-built high school standing in a field at the corner of Day Road and Santa Teresa Boulevard. A yes vote will allow the district to raise the money needed to complete the $180 million structure.
The race for the three Gilroy Unified School District trustee seats was far less clear. Challenger Fred Tovar led the pack with 26.20 percent. Incumbent Bress garnered 25.29 percent, challenger Mark Good had 24.76 percent and incumbent Jaime Rosso trailed with 23.75 percent. Tovar’s vote total, 5,311, showed a 498-vote advantage over Rosso.
The city’s library bond, facing a daunting need for 66 percent yes votes, is a point off the magic number with 65 percent saying yes to Measure F and $37 million in new construction funds, with five of 21 precincts reporting.
Voters remained divided about the importance of a new after-school refuge that could cost property owners $24 per $100,000 of property value each year until 2040.
Library4Gilroy Co-Chair and former City Administrator Jay Baksa had new library supporters over to his home Tuesday night, but most left as the slow-coming results never seemed to change.
But they are hoping the new day brings a few more votes. City Council members have said there is no Plan B. The library will either have to close because it is not seismically safe, or the cash-strapped city will have to continue spending millions in deferred maintenance.
Measure E, which would extend council member terms by one year, was passing 67 percent to 33 percent with seven of 24 precincts reporting.
The measure moves council members’ campaigns from 2009 to 2010, and those up for re-election in 2011 to 2012. The arrangement will save the city about $150,000 in election costs by piggy-backing on state and federal ballots, according to historical costs. If the regular four years is enough for a councilmember, the measure allows the body to appoint a replacement for the extra year.
Meanwhile, Measure A, the $840 million bond to bring Santa Clara Valley Medical Center up to seismic standards, held a commanding lead with 78 percent.
Santa Clara County Supervisor and former Gilroy Councilman Don Gage praised the measure’s passage Tuesday evening.
“I’m very pleased,” Gage said. “If our hospital shut down, we wouldn’t be able to serve 10,000 people a year. The burn center would be gone, and people suffering from spinal chord and brain injuries would suffer.
“That would be really be tragic for the valley, and it would have overloaded other hospitals,” Gage said.
Measure B, which would enact a 1/8-cent sales tax to bring BART to San Jose, was falling short. With 498 of 1,142 precincts reporting, it had 65.75 percent, about a point less than the two-thirds needed to pass.
Gage said from his home Tuesday evening that he hoped the measure would pass, but he added that he was surprised the ballot item garnered so much support amid a host of other multi-million bond measures.
“We have to plan for future transportation. It’s like schools,” Gage said. “You have to put your priorities in perspective.”
And, the two Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority advisory measures were passing.
