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The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters this week enacted automatic recounts in 10 contests in the county following the Nov. 8 general election, two of which were Gilroy races.Both the Gilroy City Council and Gilroy Unified School District Board of Trustees had three seats up for grabs. Because of the narrow margin of victory between the third and fourth place finishers in both races, they qualified for the automatic recount. The races’ top two vote getters are not affected.“I don’t think it will swing much, but I don’t know,” said Paul Kloecker, the former councilman who placed third in the current council race. “I will do my celebrating when I get sworn in.”The automatic recounts are based on unofficial semi-final results following the record-setting number of polling place, provisional, and mail-in ballots cast on Nov. 8, when nearly 83 percent of the county’s registered voters took part.In the City Council race, Kloecker received 5,471 votes, 95 more than fellow planning commissioner Tom Fischer, who got 5,376 votes. That is just a 0.24 percent difference, less than the 0.5 percent that triggers an automatic recount as mandated by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors earlier this year.A similar thing happened in the GUSD Board of Trustees race. Third place finisher BC Doyle, a former Navy SEAL, retired GUSD union leader and maintenance worker, received 8,439 votes, or 22.42 percent; while Paul Nadeau, director of operations of the nonprofit Navigator Schools, received 8,387 votes, or 22.28 percent. That is just a 0.38 percent difference.Nadeau, however, dropped out of the race before the election due to a potential conflict of interest because Navigator Schools operates a local charter, Gilroy Prep, which falls under the purview of the GUSD board. But his decision to drop out came too late to get his name removed from the ballot, leading him to garner thousands of votes. Nadeau said he would resign if elected and under the advice of counsel, run at a later time when it did not pose a conflict.The automatic recount, which started on Monday and will continue until the end of the weekend or whenever it’s completed, involves 150 county staff working from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the county registrar of voters office.“This is only the second time automatic recounts have taken place,” said Anita Torres, communications representative for the county registrar of voters.The eight other county races involved in automatic recounts are: Cupertino Union School District Board; Palo Alto Unified School District Board; Los Altos City Council; Monte Sereno City Council; San Jose City Council District 8; Los Altos Hills City Council; city of Santa Clara police chief; and Measure Y in the San Jose Unified School District.Narrow margins of victory, where small number of votes separated the winner from the loser, had become commonplace in small local elections. County supervisors earlier this year felt that, to satisfy voter confidence and offer greater transparency, automatic recounts paid for by the county, would be enacted if certain criteria were met, Torres said.If the contest is in a district within the county and it is not for a state or federal office; and if the margin of victory is within 0.5 percent of the total number of ballots cast or 25 votes, an automatic recount is triggered.The automatic recount as authorized by the Board of Supervisors is limited in scope and involves recounting by hand machine-counted ballots only, said Torres. “A person can see voter intent, whereas a machine would not catch it and mark it as an over- or under-vote.”Before the Board of Supervisors action, a recount would have to be voter-initiated with the costs covered by the candidate.Fourth place City Council finisher Tom Fischer said while he does not expect the recount to change the election outcome, it has been “quite an experience.”The planning commissioner, whose term ends in 2018, said if he does not surpass Kloecker to take the third spot free and clear, he intends to apply for the council seat left vacant when mayor-elect Roland Velasco is sworn in Dec. 12.However, he pointed out, the City Council can decide to bypass the application process altogether and just appoint Fischer as the fourth top vote getter in the council race.“They can pretty much do what they want to fill that seat,” he said.The top vote getters in the City Council race were GUSD Board President, Fred Tovar and incumbent Cat Tucker. In the GUSD Board of Trustee race, Mark Good and James Pace took the top spots.The final results for the Nov. 8 election will be certified by the registrar of voters on Dec. 8, after all manual recounts and audits have been completed.  

Gilroy’s growing so fast, and the need has become so complex, that the city has contracted for the first time with a company that specializes in striping streets, roundabouts, biking trails and other transportation pathways.

If you didn’t see enough of your relatives over the holidays, Tomas Rodriguez, 33, has a way to keep them with you forever. He can tattoo them on the body part of your choice.

Gary Wright, 58, from Albuquerque, was found dead in his car after 1 a.m. on Highway 101 Tuesday after his 2012 GMC left the road and crashed into a culvert.

A mountain lion was spotted on the Gavilan College campus Tuesday and officials sent out an alert for students to be careful.

One of two fugitives who escaped from the Santa Clara County Jail was caught in Antioch Tuesday night when he fell through the ceiling of his sister's home, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department.

An Important Press Release:  In response to the National Weather Service forecast of temperatures dropping into the 30s in some areas, the County of Santa Clara Office of Supportive Housing is declaring an Inclement Weather Episode for South County ONLY (Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy) starting Monday, November 28, and extending at least until through Saturday night, December 3, 2016. The Office of Supportive Housing can expand its shelter capacity and open early for inclement weather when there is a forecasted overnight low of 38 degrees or lower with a probability of rain less than 50 percent; or there is a forecasted overnight low of 42 degrees or lower with a probability of rain of 50 percent or greater. “We are doing everything we can to ensure families and individuals without a roof over their heads can be spared from the extremely cold temperatures expected this week, and are able to spend the night in a warm, safe place,” said Supervisor Mike Wasserman, District 1. “Our goal is to find permanent housing solutions, but we need to focus on the immediate needs of our homeless population.” The Gilroy Compassion Center (370 Tomkins Ct. just off of Murray Avenue, in Gilroy), will be available as a Warming Center according to its usual hours: 8:00 a.m. until noon.  The Gilroy Armory will begin operations and be available for overnight shelter starting the evening of Wednesday, November 30th.  Once it opens, its capacity will increase by 50 beds during Inclement Weather Episodes, which will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.  This is an exception to the usual capacity of 130 beds, which are available by referral only—starting on the 30th.   Each year, the County of Santa Clara’s Cold Weather Shelter Program (CWSP) provides homeless individual and families with a respite from cold and inclement weather from the Monday after Thanksgiving through March 31, with up to 395 additional beds offered at shelter locations.  Beginning Nov. 28, the program will offer 125 beds at the North County Winter Shelter in Sunnyvale, and from November 30, 130 shelter beds will be available at the Gilroy Armory. Additionally, the County has expanded its program this year to offer shelter to 35 homeless families at the Arturo Ochoa Migrant Center in Gilroy. The new Ochoa Winter Family Shelter located at Arturo Ochoa Migrant Center in Gilroy will offer shelter to 35 homeless families, and up to 140 additional beds. The center, located on Southside Road, will provide intensive case management services to all the families, enabling them to receive the appropriate assistance they need to make the transition to stable housing.  For homeless families seeking shelter in the Gilroy area, they can call St. Joseph’s Family Center for a referral at 408-842-6662, ext. 21.      The Gilroy Armory Shelter and the Sunnyvale Shelter will provide warm beds, two nutritious meals a day, and a hot shower to clients. A variety of supportive services will also be offered, including guidance to help set short-term goals, employment resources, medical care, and referrals to other services. Volunteers provide haircuts and donated toiletries and clothing are available to those who need them. Both County shelters will be operated on a referral basis, working closely with HomeFirst to identify individuals/families who will be referred to the shelters to have a guaranteed bed throughout the CWSP period. HomeFirst will coordinate referrals for both sites. For individuals seeking shelter at the Gilroy Armory, call 408-489-8781 or for the Sunnyvale Shelter, call 408-854-4670. “It is our priority to find additional beds and warming centers during extreme and inclement weather for homeless adults and families,” said Bob Dolci, Housing and Homeless Concerns Coordinator with the Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing. 

A 35-year-old San Jose woman was arrested Sunday night in Gilroy on suspicion of helping a an escaped fugitive evade police this week.

Responding to a tip that a fugitive who escaped from jail Thanksgiving eve was in town, Gilroy Police and Santa Clara County Sheriff's Deputies surrounded the Days Inn at 8292 Murray Ave., but didn't find the suspect.

Lovers of great music performed by virtuosos in an intimate setting are in for an artistic treat in Gilroy.