All the hype surrounding Measure G has led up to Tuesday’s
election. Meanwhile, several other local races and initiatives are
also on the ballot.
There are three county supervisors’ seats, the marshal’s job, a
Gavilan College bond and two measures in San Juan Bautista.
Measure G, though, has created the biggest stir around town
– and by far the most signs and political advertisements.
All the hype surrounding Measure G has led up to Tuesday’s election. Meanwhile, several other local races and initiatives are also on the ballot.
There are three county supervisors’ seats, the marshal’s job, a Gavilan College bond and two measures in San Juan Bautista.
Measure G, though, has created the biggest stir around town – and by far the most signs and political advertisements.
If you haven’t heard – which is almost impossible unless you’re awakening from hibernation – Measure G is a growth control initiative intended to preserve undeveloped agricultural land in San Benito County.
Attempts to enact the initiative through a Board of Supervisors approval and the court system failed – allowing voters the final say.
Since early 2003, supporters and opponents of the growth control initiative have aggressively debated in newspapers and public forums.
Thursday, both sides on the issue expressed optimism about the long-awaited vote.
“I certainly hope our electorate will be very well educated and understand Measure G will stop a lot of the potential growth that might attack us,” said Janet Brians, a member of the Citizens for Responsible Growth who drafted the initiative.
Annette Giacomazzi, chairperson of the No on Measure G campaign, said the group is not opposed to a “smart growth plan.”
“Measure G confuses agricultural lands with open spaces, and they are two different entities,” said Giacomazzi, who added the initiative “does a disservice” to farmers and ranchers.
In three Board of Supervisors races, Measure G has been a major topic of discussion and could sway votes – depending on candidates’ views on the contentious initiative.
Two of the districts – 1 and 2 – have three candidates. So in those, for one person to win outright Tuesday, he or she must gain more than 50 percent of the vote. Otherwise, there would be a runoff election in November between the two top vote-getters of each race.
In District 1, three candidates are vying to replace Richard Scagliotti, who’s serving out his fourth term and announced months ago he wouldn’t run again.
They include: Grant Brians, 31, a computer engineer/farmer; Marci Huston, 43, a plant broker; and Don Marcus, 52, who owns a commercial building company.
Huston, an opponent of Measure G, said she’s had a “terrific time” during the campaign. She, like most other candidates, has been going door to door in the last days before the election talking with her district’s residents.
“My hope is that there’s a big voter turnout,” Huston said.
Marcus, who opposes Measure G, said he’s received tremendous support from the community.
“I’m certainly optimistic and hoping we can get over 50 percent on Tuesday,” Marcus said.
Grant Brians said he hopes residents have informed themselves on election issues.
“I think we have a chance to elect a Board of Supervisors that will continue doing good things for the community,” said Brians, Janet’s son.
In District 2, there are two challengers trying to unseat three-term supervisor Ruth Kesler, who is 82 years old and retired. Her opponents include: Anthony Botelho, 43, an orchardist; and Anthony Freitas, 56, an orchardist.
Kesler expressed confidence going into election day, while criticizing her opponents for their campaign spending.
“When I win, it’ll be my fourth term,” said Kesler, who supports Measure G.
Botelho said he will remain positive, as he has throughout his campaign. He has enjoyed meeting people in his district, he said. Botelho is an opponent of the growth control initiative.
“I fully expect there will be a sweeping change and a new positive outlook that will be coming onto the Board of Supervisors,” he said.
Freitas said he’s glad it has been a “clean campaign,” and then expressed his support for managing growth, safer highways, conservation of water and fostering of affordable housing.
“I do believe in trying to be the best possible supervisor I can be,” said Freitas, an opponent of Measure G.
District 5 is the one supervisor race in which one man will undoubtedly triumph next week. That’s because there are only two candidates – incumbent Bob Cruz, a retired plant manager; and challenger Jaime De La Cruz, an accountant.
Cruz, who voted for the growth control initiative’s approval in April, said door-to-door campaigning since October has been the focus of his efforts.
“All the literature in the world wasn’t going to help,” he said. “The best thing to do was knock on doors and talk to people.”
De La Cruz, an opponent of Measure G, said he encourages people to vote for new leadership.
“I just hope it’s a high turnout and people vote,” he said.
In the race for county marshal, two challengers face Robert Scattini, who has held the position for more than 16 years. The marshal, with six-year terms, enforces court orders and secures the county courthouse.
Scattini, 64, pointed out this is the first time – after two previous elections – anyone has challenged him for the job.
“All the years I’ve been doing this job, I don’t recall any serious problems at all,” he said.
His opponents are Joseph Alvarado, a 911 communications center manager, and Larry Nunes, a private investigator.
Alvarado wanted to direct residents to his Web site, www.josephalvarado.com.
“I’m just hoping to win,” he said.
Whether Nunes has any last thoughts or expectations, he said, “Just an expectation to win.”
Also on the ballot, voters will decide whether to pass Measure E, the Gavilan College District’s issuance of $108 million in bonds. Its funds are intended to improve fire safety and security, upgrade plumbing, upgrade computer technology and repair classrooms and other buildings.
In San Juan Bautista, Measure H would approve a special hotel/motel tax of 2 percent to fund bathroom and parking improvements in the city. Also in the Mission City, Measure I would approve a special sales tax of .75 percent to fund public safety protection.
