For a second time in two weeks, many local voters will head to the polls to choose candidates for political office. The June 22 election, however, is much different from the gubernatorial primary that took place two weeks ago, on June 8.
This time around, a single office is up for the vote. In the special election ordered by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, voters will elect a state senator for the 15th District that stretches from San Luis Obispo County to Santa Cruz County.
The election will cost Santa Cruz County roughly $300,000.
The race pits Democrat John Laird of Santa Cruz against Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo; Libertarian Mark Hinkle of Morgan Hill; and Independent Jim Fitzgerald of Nipomo.
“It’s pretty easy to be confused about this race,” said Bill Maxfield, who runs Laird’s campaign. “This campaign is all about communicating with voters directly. It’s part campaigning and part education.”
Maxfield said turnout could be less than 20 percent and noted that all four candidates would go on to a second special election Aug. 17 if none won 50 percent of the vote plus one vote.
He voiced frustration that Schwarzenegger and Blakeslee refused Laird’s request to consolidate the election with a regularly scheduled election.
“It was done to benefit one candidate,” Maxfield said.
Laird has set up a campaign office in Watsonville and has worked to spread his message to voters by walking the streets, mailing and advertising, Maxfield said.
The local situation
Because of the gerrymandered 15th Senate District borders, voters in Felton, part of Zayante, Scotts Valley and Mount Hermon will weigh in, but voters in Ben Lomond and Boulder Creek will not.
Voters can check www.votescount.com to determine whether they should vote in this election.
Which ballot to use
Vote-by-mail voters have received a ballot with names of candidates for a single office inside. It should be mailed back in the yellow envelope that came with it. It must be received by 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 22, to be counted.
County Clerk Gail Pellerin encourages voters to send in their mail-in ballots early to cut down on confusion at the polls.
Where to vote
All Scotts Valley, Felton, Zayante and Mount Hermon residents will vote at the Scotts Valley Community Center, 360 Kings Village Road, in Scotts Valley. For this election, Pellerin consolidated all the polling places in the San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley into a single place, the Scotts Valley Community Center.
Early voting is also available ahead of time, including Saturday, at the county clerk’s office in Santa Cruz, 701 Ocean St., Room 210.
