Gage Sails to Third Term
Gilroy – Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage ran unopposed Tuesday for the first time in his 25 year career, guaranteeing a third and final term on the county’s top governing body.
Gage rose from his position as Gilroy mayor in 1997 to the District 1 supervisor’s seat through a special election to replace Mike Honda, who had secured a berth in state assembly.
Gage trounced opponents in both of his first two re-election bids, coming in with 80 and 67 percent of the vote in 1998 and 2002, respectively. In 2002, Gage defeated now-retiring Morgan Hill Mayor Dennis Kennedy. The incumbent supervisor viewed the absence of a challenger this time around as a form of compliment.
With 150 of 311 precincts reporting, Gage had garnered 14,134 votes, or 98.8 percent.
“I think I have wide support from Democrats and Republicans,” Gage said. “I think they though they couldn’t beat me, and I think voters are happy with me. I take it as a positive.”
Snafu Narrowly Averted
Gilroy – An election day snafu was narrowly averted in north Gilroy when a new property manager failed to receive advance notice that the site would be used for voting. The day before the elections, poll workers complained that voting machines were locked away in the community room of the housing complex at 8800 Lilly Ave., and police planned to cut the locks in the early morning hours to ensure the site opened for voting.
Poll worker Gary Allen chalked the situation up to a “miscommunication,” saying the manager drove down from San Francisco at 6am and unlocked the doors. The polling site opened as scheduled at 7am.
Smith reclaims seat as top cop
Gilroy – Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith ran unopposed to reclaim her seat as the county’s top cop. As of press time Tuesday, she captured 98.8 percent of the vote garnering a total of 86,297 votes.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office patrols under contract with the cities of Cupertino, Los Altos Hills and Saratoga, as well as unincorporated areas throughout the county.
