Santa Cruz city residents went to the polls yesterday and put the city on a new path. Incumbent Councilmember Lynn Robinson will be joined by top vote-getter Hilary Bryant and 2008 candidate David Terrazas on the city council. All three support increased economic development for the city, including the encouragement of new businesses. “The economic strength of the city is on everybody’s minds,” said Robinson, explaining that this will help to generate more tax revenue for the cash-strapped city.
And revenue is important, especially with the rise of gang-related violence throughout Santa Cruz. This was also important to voters, who overwhelmingly (63 percent in favor) passed Measure H, a utility tax increase that would raise revenue of about $1.6 million a year to help put eight more cops on the street and help offset cutbacks in services.
Bryant, who took 23 percent of the vote, is a first-time candidate and mother of two who began the race as a relative unknown. She campaigned the traditional way, pounding the pavement and meeting the people she hoped would vote for her. Terrazas is also a strong campaigner who almost won a seat in 2008; when the final tally was completed, he had lost to current councilmember Tony Madrigal by just 45 votes.
Progressive candidate Ron Pomerantz finished fourth, conservative insurance broker Kevin Moon finished fifth, Planning Commission member David Foster (who was endorsed by Santa Cruz Weekly) took sixth, Steve Pleich finished seventh and Gus Ceballos finished eighth.
All three elected councilmembers are expected to form a strong pro-business coalition with mayor-to-be Ryan Coonerty.
In other races throughout the county, Shannar Abraham and Sherwin Gott won seats on the Lompico County Water District Board of Trustees; both ran against the idea of merging the district with the San Lorenzo Valley Water District. Republican-backed Aaron Hinde was edging out Democrat George Martinez for Santa Cruz County Board of Education Area 1 Trustee. District 27 Assemblymember Bill Monning easily retained his seat and District 28 Assembly hopeful Luis Alejo won his race with 60 percent of the vote, continuing both districts’ histories of sending Democrats to Sacramento.
On the statewide propositions, Prop 19 (legalize marijuana) failed; Prop 20 (having an independent commission redraw Congressional districts) passed by 21 points; Prop 21, the vehicle license fee to fund state parks, failed 58-49; Prop 22 (stopping state lawmakers from taking local funds) passed 61-39; Prop 23 (suspending California’s global warming laws) failed 38-62; Prop 24 (repealing tax breaks for wealthy corporations) failed 42-58; Prop 25, requiring a simple majority to pass a budget in the legislature, passed 55-45; Prop 26 (requiring 2/3 legislative approval to pass minor fees) passed 53-47; and Prop 27 (eliminate the redistricting commission) failed 40-60.
Read more at Santa Cruz Sentinel and the Secretary of State’s website.
