Let’s revisit the unofficial election results for the local elections and see where things stand. With more voters than ever utilizing mail-in ballots, a complete picture of the results may take longer than usual. This is what we know as of now. These results are as of Thursday, Nov. 5 at 9 a.m. with the ballot counting progress at 62 percent.
Santa Clara City Council, District 1
Incumbent Kathy Watanabe seems to have held her lead to continue to represent Santa Clara’s District 1. Right now, Watanabe has 53.89 percent, while challenger Harbir Bhatia has 46.11 percent. Currently, it’s a difference of 297 votes.
Santa Clara City Council, District 4
Currently, Kevin Park has a maintained a lead to represent Santa Clara’s District 4. Park has 57.37 percent of the votes and incumbent Teresa O’Neill has 42.63 percent. That’s the difference of 718 votes.
Santa Clara City Council, District 5
Santa Clara’s District 5’s lead candidate seems to be Suds Jain with 61.55 percent. Opponent, Bob O’Keefe, has 38.45 percent of the votes. Suds holds the lead with a difference of 1,140 votes.
Santa Clara City Council, District 6
Currently, Anthony Becker holds a lead but the gap between him Robert Mezzetti seems to be getting closer. When it comes to Santa Clara’s District 6, Becker has 41.72 percent, Mezzetti has 37.18 percent, and Gautam (aka Gary) Barve has 21.10 percent.
Santa Clara Police Chief
Current Police Chief Pat Nikolai, who was serving a partial term, is the winner and ran unopposed.
The Santa Clara Police Chief no longer has signing authority. That is held by the two Assistant Police Chiefs, which is not an elected position but an appointed one.
Santa Clara City Clerk
Current City Clerk Hosam Haggag, who was serving a partial term, is the winner and ran unopposed.
The City Clerk’s duties were reduced by a City Council decision in 2018. Most of the duties have been transferred to the Assistant City Clerk, which is not an elected position but an appointed one.
Measure E
Santa Clara’s only ballot measure, Measure E, looks like it definitely caught the favor of voters. It currently has 74.93 percent of the ‘yes’ votes.
Santa Clara’s hotel tax, also known as the transient occupancy tax (TOT), in place since 1992, is 9.5 percent. If passed by voters, Measure E allows the City to raise that tax to 13.5 percent for hotel stays not exceeding 30 days. City Staff has estimated that the tax hike could generate between $1.75 and $7 million for the City’s general fund annually, based on pre-pandemic economic models, which would be used to preserve City services.
Sunnyvale Mayor
This is the first time Sunnyvale residents got to vote directly for their mayor. Right now, current Mayor Larry Klein has kept a lead with 36.67 percent of the votes. Their opponents follow with 34.12 percent of the votes for Nancy Smith and Michael Goldman with 29.20 percent.
Smith is currently Sunnyvale’s Vice Mayor and Goldman is currently a Sunnyvale Council Member. Both of their terms are up in 2020.
Sunnyvale City Council, District 2
This is also the first election with Sunnyvale’s new City Council districts. Alysa Cisneros, with 54.50 percent of the vote, has a good lead to grab the opportunity to represent District 2. Josh Grossman follows with 32.73 percent and Hina Siddiqui has 12.77 percent.
Sunnyvale City Council, District 4
Residents in Sunnyvale’s District 4 got to vote in their first district election. Current Sunnyvale Council Member Russ Melton has a strong lead with 73.16 percent of the vote, while challenger Paul Joseph Lesevic-Campos has 26.84 percent.
Sunnyvale City Council, District 6
Sunnyvale’s District 6 residents also got to vote in their first district election. In another three-way race, Omar Din currently has a lead with 42.70 percent over the competition. Charlotte Thornton currently has 32.79 percent, while Leia Mehlman has 24.50 percent.
Santa Clara Unified School District Board of Trustees, Trustee Area 2
In Santa Clara Unified’s 2nd Trustee Area, the current standings continue to show Bonnie Lieberman in the lead with 41.32 percent of the vote and current Board Member Albert Gonzalez with 38.30 percent. Current Board Clerk Mark Richardson trails with 20.37 percent. Two of these candidates will be welcomed to the Board.
Santa Clara Unified School District Board of Trustees, Trustee Area 3
Current Santa Clara Unified School Board President Dr. Michele Ryan has 54.39 percent as of press time while Andrew Knaack has 45.61 percent. Whoever wins will be representing Trustee Area 3.
Santa Clara County Board of Education Governing Board, Trustee Area 5
Victoria Chon is currently in the lead with 52.41 percent of the vote, while current Board Member Anna Song has 47.59 percent.
U.S. Congress, California’s 17th District
Current Congressman Ro Khanna has maintained a strong lead to continue to represent District 17, which includes the cities of Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Milpitas, and Newark, as well as parts of Fremont and San Jose. The Associated Press has already called the race for Khanna.
As of publication, voter turnout in Santa Clara County was a little over 55.24 percent. View the developing results on the Santa Clara Registrar of Voters’ website.
When it comes to the State, these are the unofficial election results as of Thursday, Nov. 5 at 9 a.m.
California Proposition 14
The Prop that would authorize bonds to continue stem cell research is currently winning with 51.1 percent voting ‘yes.’
California Proposition 15
The Prop that would increase funding sources for public schools, community colleges, and local government services by changing the tax assessment of commercial and industrial property is currently losing with 51.7 percent voting ‘no.’
California Proposition 16
The Prop that would allow diversity as a factor in public employment, education, and contracting decisions is currently losing with 56 percent of voters rejecting it.
California Proposition 17
The Prop that would restore the right to vote after completion of prison term is currently winning with 59.1 percent in support.
California Proposition 18
The Prop that amends California constitution to permit 17 year olds to vote in primary and special elections if they will turn 18 by the next general election is currently losing with 55.1 percent rejecting the Prop.
California Proposition 19
This Prop would change certain property tax rules and is currently winning with 51.5 percent who voted ‘yes.’
California Proposition 20
This Prop would restrict parole for certain offenses currently considered to be non-violent. Authorizes felony sentences for certain offenses currently treated only as misdemeanors. Prop 20 is currently losing with 62.3 percent rejecting the Prop.
California Proposition 21
The Prop that would expand local governments’ authority to enact rent control on residential property is losing, with only 40.3 percent of voters who supported it.
California Proposition 22
This Prop would exempt app-based transportation and delivery companies from providing employee benefits to certain drivers and is currently winning with 58.4 percent of the vote.
California Proposition 23
The Prop that would establish state requirements for kidney dialysis clinics and would require on-site medical professional is currently losing with 64 percent of voters rejecting it.
California Proposition 24
The Prop that would amend consumer privacy laws is winning with 56.1 percent in support.
California Proposition 25
If passed, this Prop would have replaced money bail with system based on public safety and flight risk. Prop 25 is currently losing with 55.4 percent of voters rejecting it.
Find up-to-date results on the Secretary of State’s website.
