Nov. 8 Election: With six candidates, two incumbents retain seats, newcomer wins third

Cline, Marques and Bracco earn seats on city council

By Staff Reports

With 91 percent of votes counted, the race for three Gilroy City Council seats is set. Tom Cline leads the six-person field followed by incumbent Carol Marques. In third place is incumbent Dion Bracco followed by Jan Bernstein Chargin, Joseph Robinson and Ronald Robinson.

Cline said he plans on enjoying the moment and spending time with his wife for the next few weeks.

“The campaign was a unique experience that I will never forget, but I’m glad it’s finally over and now I can be a voice on the city council to move Gilroy forward,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting sworn in, and I promise to represent all of Gilroy, whether they voted for me or not.”

Marques said she believes voters elected her because she represents all people regardless of political ties.

“As council members, we need to work together for the common good and not be divisive,” she said.

Mayor Marie Blankley said the results tell her voters want a cohesive council with a broad range of perspectives and expertise but with members willing to collaborate and who ultimately respect the democratic process.

“Voters also made clear they want councilmembers whose allegiance is to their constituents not to political party agendas,” she said. “I am proud of the voters’ choices, and for the passage of Measure D.”

In the race for Santa Clara County Supervisor to replace the termed-out Mike Wasserman, Sylvia Arenas is leading Johnny Khamis with 58,304 votes, or 54.30 percent, compared to 49,065 votes, or 45.70 percent.

In the race for Santa Clara County Sheriff to replace the recently retired Laurie Smith, Robert Jonsen leads Kevin Jensen with 224,064 votes, or 50.70, compared to 218,496 votes, or 49.30 percent.

In the race for Santa Clara County Board of Education to replace Claudia Rossi sees Raeena Lari with a lead over Natalie Prcevski 35,733 votes, or 52.56 percent compared to 32,249 votes or 47.44 percent.

In the race for Gavilan College Trustee Area 1, Kathy Chavez Napoli leads Terry Peabody with 5,392 votes, or 38.00 percent, to 3,305 votes, or 38.00 percent.

In the race for Gavilan College Trustee Area 2, Alicia Cortez leads Steve Kinsella with 4,705 votes, or 59.91 percent, to 3,148 votes, or 40.09 percent.

In the race for Gavilan College Trustee Area 3, Gabriel Gutierrez leads Tara Bevington with 5,878 votes, or 60.33 percent, to 3,865 votes, or 39.67 percent.

Finally, Measure D was overwhelmingly supported. With 91 percent of the votes counted, it has 9,626 votes, or 71.89 percent, compared to 3,763 votes, or 28.11 percent.

Measure D, a charter amendment, would require the city to formally bid a public project that exceeds $200,000, up from the current $35,000, which was adopted in 1960. It would also allow the city to contract with a single entity for both the design and construction for a public project, rather than the current method of bidding separately.