Weekend processing of ballots by voters who were same-day registrants and the results of challenges to others could leave the race to be Sam Liccardo’s opponent in November a virtual dead-heat.
The contest between Joe Simitian and Evan Low could be decided by Friday's report from San Mateo County, which last reported results on Wednesday, March 13.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen has decided not to charge Rebecca Eisenberg for theft, which had been sought by Valley Water CEO Rick Callender when Eisenberg in January took home a copy of the report that accused her of the abusive conduct.
Many Californians were undecided heading into Election Day on Gov. Newsom’s Proposition 1, which funds new mental health treatment facilities. As of noon Tuesday with about 5.8 million votes counted, the measure was leading by a margin of 50.3% to 49.7%.
Voters authorized the Legislature to go to standard or daylight saving time year-round, but nearly six years later no law is on the books. It takes a two-thirds vote, and also congressional action to go to daylight saving year-round.
As expected, Mayor Matt Mahan easily won re-election, avoiding a November runoff with 87.8% of the vote, as ballot counting continued through Thursday.
In addition to outright winners in local races in the March primary, Matt Mahan, David Cohen and Otto Lee, another 10 local politicians emerged from the early ballot counts as shoo-ins for November, because they are already comfortably separated from their opponents.
No other city in California except Santa Clara still has an elected police chief. Less than 20% of the municipalities in the state have an elected city clerk.
The primary turnout in the county in 2022 was just under 36 percent, and this year’s county tally is likely to be under 30%, based on this week’s trends.
Rescue California, which could begin gathering signatures on its recall petition within a matter of weeks, needs about 1.31 million valid signatures from registered California voters to qualify for the ballot. Voters overwhelmingly rejected a 2021 recall.
Santa Clara Police Department officers arrived in the area of the Feb. 20 fatal shooting, and arrested the suspect as he walked on the sidewalk of White Oak Lane.
The Registered Nurses Professional Association said 97% of its members – whose contract expired Oct. 29 – voted to authorize a strike if no agreement is reached on union demands for better working conditions, pay raises and improved benefits.
