Election: 2024: Candidates set to compete for city council, school board Nov. 5
Challengers in Gilroy, Morgan Hill mayoral races
By Robert Airoldi
The slate of candidates is set for the Nov. 5 election with competitive races for most seats.
In the race for Gilroy mayor, incumbent Marie Blankley faces business owner Greg Bozzo.
For city council, there are six candidates running for three seats. They are incumbent Zach Hilton, planning commissioner Kelly Ramirez, engineer and planning commissioner Stefanie Elle, incumbent Rebeca Armendariz, small business owner Terence Fugazzi, and incumbent Fred Tovar.
In the race for Morgan Hill mayor, current mayor Mark Turner will face current councilmember Yvonne Martinez-Beltran, whose council term expires in 2026.
Candidates for the council seat in District A, which includes the downtown and southwest section of the city, are Dave Dindak, business owner and Realtor; and Miriam T. Vega, a teacher and businesswoman. Incumbent Gino Borgioli is not seeking another term.
Candidates for the council seat in District C, which includes a small section of downtown and northwest Morgan Hill, are Soraida Iwanaga, a registered nurse; and Michael Orosco, a business owner and engineer. Incumbent Rene Spring declined to run.
Cindy Rogers Murphy, a retired city manager, is the sole candidate for the city’s treasurer position.
The Gilroy Unified School District has three seats open and none of the candidates are facing challengers.
They are, Hyon Chu Eyi-Baker, an educator, in Area 2; Kenny Moreno, a business owner in Area 5; and Jennifer Del Bono, a business owner in Area 6.
In the race for three seats on the Morgan Hill Unified School District Board of Trustees, each area has two candidates.
In Area 5, Tyler Smith, entrepreneur and father, is running against Jennifer Marquez. In Area 6, Rebecca Munson, a teacher, is running against Mary Patterson, the incumbent. In Area 7, Tom Pocus, a retired engineer, is running against Veronica Andrade, a Gavilan Community College instructor.
The race for seats on the Gavilan College Board of Trustees sees two incumbents running unopposed. Rachel Perez in Area 6, and Alicia M. Cortez in Area 2.