Sheriff candidates Turturici, Thompson set for run-off
There will be a November runoff for the open San Benito County
sheriff seat between Undersheriff Pat Turturici and Watsonville Lt.
Darren Thompson, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s
election.
After all the votes were tallied, Turturici finished with more
than 47 percent of the vote, about 200 votes shy of winning the
sheriff race outright. Thompson, his closest competitor, finished a
distant second with just shy of 25 percent of the vote.
Sheriff candidates Turturici, Thompson set for run-off
There will be a November runoff for the open San Benito County sheriff seat between Undersheriff Pat Turturici and Watsonville Lt. Darren Thompson, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s election.
After all the votes were tallied, Turturici finished with more than 47 percent of the vote, about 200 votes shy of winning the sheriff race outright. Thompson, his closest competitor, finished a distant second with just shy of 25 percent of the vote.
But without a majority winner, the two will face off in the general election with a different landscape when turnout will be much higher, with the races for governor and U.S. Senate.
The undersheriff finished with 3,414 votes, and Thompson finished with 1,782 votes, according to the unofficial results.
Hollister Police Sgt. Ray Wood finished with nearly 18 percent of the vote and Marshal Robert Scattini finished with 10 percent.
After being groomed for the position for nearly six years, Turturici said there is still work to be done.
“I worked very hard on my campaign and I was very pleased with the results,” he said. “I’m just happy.”
Turturici wasn’t surprised about the support because of the effort he put in, he said.
“I’m very humbled by it,” he said. “I’m very pleased and it means a lot. It shows if you work hard, people will support you.”
For Thompson, forcing a runoff was exactly what he wanted, he said.
“Coming in, we thought the realistic thing was to force a runoff,” Thompson said. “Back when I got into the race, I anticipated there would be a good amount of support for the undersheriff.”
Thompson said he thought Turturici would get around 40 percent, and he was just hoping for second place to force the runoff.
“We thought we needed to force the runoff so we are celebrating a bit today,” he said.
And Thompson hopes his late support continues to grow over the next few months.
“I was happy to see my campaign peaking at the right time and we hope we can continue that momentum,” said Thompson. “I am excited to have five more months.”
Turturici said he plans to use the upcoming months to sustain a similar momentum.
“It was very exciting to be that close,” he said. “You always hold that hope that you can win it in June but we are still in good shape.”
Turturici has worked for the sheriff’s office since 1985 and was promoted to undersheriff six years ago. His campaign focused on gang enforcement and informing the community about his intentions early.
And he will continue to go door to door, listening to residents’ concerns and telling that message, he said.
Thompson, who has worked at the Watsonville Police Department for the last 22 years, will continue to introduce himself to residents, particularly those who have lived here a long time.
He realizes he is a relative newcomer to the area and hopes to “build a bridge” between the new and old.
“My biggest obstacle is to close that gap to those who are reluctant to newcomers,” he said. “I am about improving that relationship.”
Third-place finisher Wood wished both of the remaining candidates well.
“I’m pretty proud to have been involved,” he said. “But the community spoke and made an informed decision and they will have to do the same come November.”
Scattini didn’t immediately return phone calls before press time.
