San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley voters took to the polls on Tuesday, casting votes on a range of local issues. Among the contests were two seats on the Scotts Valley City Council, a countywide measure to levy a business tax on medicinal marijuana dispensaries, and a pair of highly contentious water district board races.
Scotts Valley City Council
Incumbent Mayor Jim Reed and longtime Councilwoman Stephany Aguilar both retained their seats on the Scotts Valley City Council by healthy margins over challenger Russ Patterson.
As of Nov. 5, Reed received 1,532 votes, for 41.16 percent; Aguilar received 1,205 votes, for 32.38 percent; and Patterson came in with 970 votes, for 26.06 percent.
San Lorenzo Valley Water District Board of Directors
Eric Hammer, Charles Baughman, and Gene Elizabeth Ratcliffe won the three open seats on the San Lorenzo Valley Water District Board of Directors, defeating challengers Bob Fultz, Karen Brown, and ousting incumbent Larry Prather.
As of Nov. 5, Hammer received 2,601 votes, for 18.73 percent; Baughman received 2,532 votes, for 18.23 percent; Ratcliffe received 2,410 votes, for 17.35 percent; Fultz received 2,245 votes, for 16.17 percent; Brown received 2,165 votes, for 15.59 percent; and Prather received 1,919 votes, for 13.82 percent.
Lompico County Water District
In a race that came to be defined by the candidates’ stances over a proposed merger with the San Lorenzo Valley Water District, pro-merger candidates John Schneider and Merrie Schaller won the two open seats on the Lompico County Water District Board of Directors, defeating challengers Cheryl Trapp and Mark Meacham, and ousting incumbent Sherwin Gott.
As of Nov. 5, Schneider received 180 votes, for 30.61 percent; Schaller received 163 votes, for 27.72 percent; Gott received 117 votes, for 19.90 percent; Trapp received 81 votes, for 13.78 percent; and Meacham received 45 votes, for 7.65 percent.
Measure K
A countywide measure, designed to levy a 7 percent tax on medical marijuana dispensaries in the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County passed handily, with 36,417 (77.23 percent) voting to approve. The revenues raised are intended to provide funds for local police, fire, and emergency agencies, as well as programs for housing, environmental concerns, youth, seniors, and animals.
