Nonprofit CEO Monica Martinez has dominated in her race against three others in the Santa Cruz County Fifth District primary election, capturing more than 46% of the vote, with software company founder Christopher Bradford getting 21.5%.
That’s according to results released March 15 by the Santa Cruz County Clerk.
It’s possible that homebuilder Tom Decker, who had almost 20% of the vote, could still overtake Bradford, and remain in contention in November for Supervisor Bruce McPherson’s seat.
Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District boardmember Theresa Ann Bond was in fourth with 11.66%.
Other results were largely unchanged.
First District Supervisor incumbent Manu Koenig was holding his lead (52.5%) against challenger Lani Faulkner, who had captured nearly 47% of the vote.
In the Second District race, Kristen Brown led the pack of five vying for Zach Friend’s seat after garnering almost 33% of the votes, with Kim De Serpa trailing with just over 25%.
Because nobody got a 50% majority, Brown and De Serpa appeared to be headed for the runoff race during the general election in November.
Watsonville’s Measure N was holding steady at 68.5% of the vote, just over the 66.6% majority needed to pass.
The measure showed no change since the last results were released earlier that week.
If it passes, Measure N would provide $116 million for Watsonville Community Hospital, allowing it to expand and upgrade its emergency department, upgrade its imaging equipment and purchase the building and land.
Santa Cruz’s Measure M, which would’ve allowed voters to decide on building height increases and increase affordability requirements for new developments from 20% to 25%, appears to have suffered a resounding loss, with more than 60% of voters opposing it.
In the Presidential election, Santa Cruz County voters fell in step with those nationwide, with a majority of Republicans going for former President Donald Trump, and Democrats opting for President Joe Biden, setting the nation up for a repeat of the 2020 election.
Adam Schiff led the pack of 27 candidates for the U.S. Senate, with 43.4%.
Jimmy Panetta seemed to have handily won in the 19th Congressional District race with 41.5%.
Sen. John Laird won’t need to go to a runoff, after getting more than 77% of the vote.
Similarly, Assemblywoman Gail Pellerin has held her 28th District seat with around 80% of the vote.
