Quick Take
Both Central Fire’s Measure R and Scotts Valley Fire District’s Measure S failed to reach the two-thirds of the vote required to pass. Zayante’s Measure T, a parcel tax, passed with 72%.
Tuesday, Dec. 3, 5:40 p.m. — After the last ballots were added to the countywide tally Tuesday evening, Central Fire’s Measure R and Scotts Valley Fire District’s Measure S remain beneath the two-thirds of the vote required to pass, getting 57.5% and 61.8% of the vote, respectively. Zayante’s Measure T, a parcel tax, remains on track to pass. It has received 71.7% of the vote in favor.
If state Proposition 5 passed, Measures R and S would have needed only 55% of the vote. Prop 5 has failed, though, having received just 44.6% of the vote statewide.
The race for Felton’s fire district was close until the end. Mike Shults, Erica Schwanbeck and Doug Conrad ended up winning the race for three open seats. Shults received the most votes, with 1,117, while Schwanbeck was next with 1,110 votes. Conrad followed with 995 votes. Judy Anderson finished just 56 votes behind with 939.
Michael Miller and Kevin Stottrup won the two open seats in the Aromas Tri-County Fire Protection District, receiving 46.3% and 40.7% of the vote, respectively. Nazhat Parveen Sharma received only 13% of the vote.
In Boulder Creek, Robert Locatelli, Chris Currier and David Scruggs secured wins for three open seats, but by a slim margin. Locatelli had received 29.2% of the vote, Currier 24%, Scruggs 23.6% and Cortinas 22.8%.
In the Scotts Valley fire district, Ron Whittle, Michael Weaver and Daron L. Pisciotta have won the three open seats. They have received 30.3%, 22.8% and 21.6% of the vote, respectively. The next closest candidate was Philip Hover-Smoot, having received just 14.9% of the vote.
County Clerk Tricia Webber’s office said Tuesday’s update was the last and the results are now official. All totaled countywide,136,505 votes have been counted.
The three fire district measures — Central Fire’s Measure R, Scotts Valley’s Measure S and Zayante’s Measure T — all seek to raise money for district efforts like building new facilities and replacing emergency vehicles.
All of the measures would require 66.67% voter approval to pass, but if state Proposition 5 passes concurrently this election, Measures R and S will only need 55% voter approval. Measure T would still require two-thirds approval, as it is a parcel tax. Prop 5 seeks to lower the voter approval threshold for local bonds for affordable housing, supportive housing and public infrastructure from 66.67% to 55%.
The four fire districts — Aromas Tri-County, Boulder Creek, Felton and Scotts Valley — all have multiple seats up for election on their board of directors. However, Felton Fire’s is one of the most competitive, with seven candidates vying for three seats. That district has struggled with budget shortfalls, volunteer shortages and staffing issues amid a lack of confidence in leadership and ethics violations.
Board member Mike Shults was the only incumbent among the seven candidates for three open seats on the Felton fire district’s board.
Appointed to the board in January, Shults came under scrutiny for taking one of the district’s water tender vehicles to fill his personal pool without permission, and later admitting to it. He had to recuse himself from deliberations on the issue, which left only board chair Jim Anderson and vice chair Norm Crandell. The board needs three votes to take any action, which has left it stalled out on how to respond.
Shults was joined by salesperson Adam Hensleigh, local business owners Jeff Myers and Doug Conrad, communications manager Mark Giblin, retired bank manager Judy Anderson and Erica Schwanbeck, a manager with the county’s human services department.
Myers told Lookout he thought his small business acumen could help balance the budget and lead a department that has suffered from infighting and morale issues. Conrad, a past volunteer firefighter in Felton and Boulder Creek, wrote in a candidate statement that he hoped to rally community support for the fire district and bring “my hands-on knowledge of cash flow, budgets, and strong leadership.”
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