California’s closely watched primary race for attorney general faded into a standard partisan contest Tuesday, giving the Democratic incumbent Atty. Geb. Rob Bonta an easy victory for the top spot on the Nov. 8 ballot to likely face one of two Republicans instead of a high-profile independent prosecutor. Bonta easily led the field of five […]
Election 2022
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Gov. Newsom advances to November as California primary returns come in
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s showing in California’s primary shows how formidable he is even after COVID-19, devastating wildfires and worsening homelessness.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Election 2022 results: Vote counting is slow going with still 50% left to be tabulated
Just released voting totals — with 33,569 votes now counted by the County Clerk’s office — tells us more about what is decided, and what the November ballot will look like. And there are at least two possible cliffhangers in Measure F and the 4th District Supervisor race.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Will ‘D’ deliver voters? Turnout is light so far, but key issues could drive bigger Election Day balloting
By Friday afternoon, Santa Cruz County had received only 22,000 early ballots, “less than for a usual primary,” County Clerk Tricia Webber told Lookout. With no presidential decision on the ballot, will polarizing Measure D and key county supervisor and State Assembly races drive up the numbers?
Posted inPolitics & Policy
2022 U.S. Senate race in California cheat sheet: Challengers take on Alex Padilla
After Alex Padilla was appointed to the seat vacated by Kamala Harris, voters will see two races — a special Senate election covering the Harris term that ends this year and the regularly scheduled one for a six-year term that begins in January — next to each other on the June ballot and then again in November.
Posted inK-12 Education
What has Tony Thurmond done as California schools chief?
Tony Thurmond faces little opposition for a second term as California schools superintendent, but critics question how much he has accomplished. He points to task forces that are influencing education policy and says he wants to help public schools rebound from the pandemic.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
State Assembly fundraising: Pellerin, Rennie neck and neck in District 28, Addis way out front in District 30
We take a look at the fundraising for the Assembly District 28 and 30 races and how the candidates compare as election day draws closer.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
The Measure D middle man: RTC lead Guy Preston must drive down two sets of tracks, neither without its perils
The Regional Transportation Commission is the entity tasked with letting us move about Santa Cruz County in smarter and more efficient ways. The man leading the exploratory charge as the nonpartisan director of RTC staff has had the most difficult task of his professional life with both sides of the Measure D issue digging in deep with win-at-all-costs attitudes. But Guy Preston vows to block out the noise and keep plowing ahead with clear eyes, arming the RTC voting board with the best information he can provide. First he wants to arm voters.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Monterey survived redistricting; Santa Cruz can, too
Tyller Williamson, a city councilmember in Monterey, sees redistricting as good for minority communities because it allows them more representation. He also “cautiously supports” an at-large mayor. Monterey transitioned to district elections in November and is still working out the kinks. He’s watching Santa Cruz optimistically and says our two cities can learn from each other.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson and Felipe Hernandez lead: How fundraising stacks up in county supervisors races
With election day approaching rapidly, we take a look at how fundraising for the 3rd and 4th District Santa Cruz County Supervisor candidates compares, with the top candidates reporting dozens of contributors who maxed out their $500 gifts.
