Combined ballot

See Also:   Information for the County of Santa Cruz
(Elections Office, local League of Women Voters, links to other county election sites)

President/Vice President of the United States

• Hillary Clinton/Tim Kane, Democratic
  8,753,788 votes 62.1%
• Donald J. Trump/Michael R. Pence, Republican
  4,483,810 votes 31.8%
• Gary Johnson/Bill Weld, Libertarian
  478,499 votes 3.4%
• Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka, Green
  278,657 votes 2.0%
• Gloria Estella La Riva/Dennis J. Banks, Peace and Freedom
  66,101 votes 0.5%

US Congress

United States Senator

• Kamala D. Harris, Democratic
  7,542,753 votes 61.6%
• Loretta L. Sanchez, Democratic
  4,701,417 votes 38.4%

United States Representative; District 18

• Anna G. Eshoo, Democratic
  230,460 votes 71.1%
• Richard B. Fox, Republican
  93,470 votes 28.9%

United States Representative; District 20

• Jimmy Panetta, Democratic
  180,980 votes 70.8%
• Casey Lucius, Republican
  74,811 votes 29.2%

State Senate

State Senator; District 17

• Bill Monning, Democratic
  268,806 votes 65.5%
• Palmer Kain, Republican
  141,339 votes 34.5%

State Assembly

Member of the State Assembly; District 29

• Mark Stone, Democratic
  156,703 votes 72.2%
• Sierra Roberts, Republican
  60,245 votes 27.8%

Member of the State Assembly; District 30

• Anna Caballero, Democratic
  79,885 votes 62.5%
• Karina Cervantez Alejo, Democratic
  47,998 votes 37.5%

School

Member; Santa Cruz County Board of Education; Trustee Area 2

• Bruce Van Allen
  9,988 votes 63.72%
• Christopher Charman
  5,550 votes 35.40%
• (138 Total Other Write-In Votes 0.88%)

Trustee; Cabrillo Community College District; Trustee Area 5

• Leticia Mendoza
  4,748 votes 55.67%
• Daniel Dodge
  3,664 votes 42.96%
• (117 Total Other Write-In Votes 1.37%)

Trustee; Pajaro Valley Joint Unified School District; Trustee Area 2

• Georgia Acosta
  3,023 votes 58.72%
• Lupe Rivas
  2,075 votes 40.31%
• (50 Total Other Write-In Votes 0.97%)

Board Member; Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District (2 Elected)

• Rosemary Rossi
  13,071 votes 30.2%
• Katherine Tseng
  12,943 votes 29.9%
• Ron Jones
  9,563 votes 22.1%
• Kyle Park
  7,662 votes 17.7%
• (9 Total Other Write-In Votes 0.0%)

Board Member; Scotts Valley Unified School District; 4 Year Term (3 Elected)

• Michael Shulman
  4,149 votes 19.36%
• Kim Shultz
  4,062 votes 18.95%
• Sue Rains
  3,886 votes 18.13%
• Sue Roth
  3,571 votes 16.66%
• Farah Galvez Theissen
  3,206 votes 14.96%
• Cathie Simonovich
  2,541 votes 11.85%
• (20 Total Other Write-In Votes 0.09%)

Board Member; Scotts Valley Unified School District; 2 Year Short Term (2 Elected)

• Roger L. Snyder
  4,134 votes 32.21%
• Corey Warner
  3,049 votes 23.75%
• Stephanie Espinola
  3,021 votes 23.54%
• Gia Schwarzer
  2,608 votes 20.32%
• (24 Total Other Write-In Votes 0.19%)

Board Member; Aromas-San Juan Unified School District (3 Elected)

• Shary Greene
  591 votes 27.0%
• Jennifer Colby
  577 votes 26.4%
• Drew McAlister
  568 votes 26.0%
• Monica Martinez-Guaracha
  450 votes 20.6%

Board Member; Live Oak Elementary School District; 4 Year Term (2 Elected)

• Heather Rhodes
  5,935 votes 41.80%
• Jeremy Ray
  4,927 votes 34.70%
• Michael D. Lelieur
  3,293 votes 23.20%
• (42 Total Other Write-In Votes 0.30%)

Board Member; Mountain Elementary School District; 4 Year Term (3 Elected)

• Marissa Ferejohn Swett
  554 votes 34.78%
• Mary Navas
  386 votes 24.23%
• Mark H. Swan
  354 votes 22.22%
• Simon Fletcher
  299 votes 18.77%

Council Member; City of Capitola (2 Elected)

• Kristen Petersen
  3,237 votes 44.10%
• Ed Bottorff
  1,535 votes 20.91%
• Bob Edgren
  1,041 votes 14.18%
• Sam Storey (Write-in)
• (1,527 Total Other Write-In Votes 20.80%)

City Treasurer; City of Capitola

• Peter Wilk
  3,361 votes 98.42%
• (54 Total Other Write-In Votes 1.58%)

Council Member; City of Santa Cruz (4 Elected)

• Martine Watkins
  13,683 votes 13.76%
• Cynthia Mathews
  13,500 votes 13.58%
• Chris Krohn
  12,296 votes 12.37%
• Sandy Brown
  11,325 votes 11.39%
• Drew Glover
  10,770 votes 10.83%
• Robert Singleton
  10,704 votes 10.76%
• J. M. Brown
  10,609 votes 10.67%
• Steve Schnaar
  10,423 votes 10.48%
• Steve Pleich
  2,461 votes 2.47%
• Nathanael A. Kennedy
  2,257 votes 2.27%
• Jim Davis
  1,216 votes 1.22%
• (195 Total Other Write-In Votes 0.20%)

Council Member; City of Scotts Valley (3 Elected)

• Donna R. Lind
  3,472 votes 22.58%
• Randy Johnson
  3,351 votes 21.79%
• Jack Dilles
  3,098 votes 20.15%
• Rosanna Herrera
  2,808 votes 18.26%
• Dene Bustichi
  2,623 votes 17.06%
• (24 Total Other Write-In Votes 0.16%)

Council Member; City of Watsonville; Council District 1

• Felipe Hernandez
  1,042 votes 95.86%
• (45 Total Other Write-In Votes 4.14%)

Council Member; City of Watsonville; Council District 2

• Oscar Rios
  678 votes 49.93%
• David Hermosillo
  675 votes 49.71%
• (5 Total Other Write-In Votes 0.37%)

Council Member; City of Watsonville; Council District 6

• Trina Coffman-Gomez
  998 votes 49.90%
• Doreen Martinez
  979 votes 48.95%
• (23 Total Other Write-In Votes 1.15%)

Special District

Director; Central Fire Protection District (4 Elected)

• John P. Lucchesi
  15,789 votes 22.65%
• Owen T. Miller
  15,497 votes 22.23%
• Kevin Walter
  10,532 votes 15.11%
• David Burnham
  9,336 votes 13.39%
• Charles Howard
  6,341 votes 9.10%
• Richard Phillips
  5,196 votes 7.45%
• Bruce Bettencourt
  4,105 votes 5.89%
• Michael C. Mitchell
  2,826 votes 4.05%
• (93 Total Other Write-In Votes 0.13%)

Director; Scotts Valley Fire Protection District (3 Elected)

• Daron L. Pisciotta
  6,231 votes 31.17%
• Russ Patterson
  3,822 votes 19.12%
• Alan L. Smith
  2,936 votes 14.69%
• Arthur E. Smith
  2,806 votes 14.04%
• Shawn Mosley
  2,255 votes 11.28%
• Phillip Witt
  1,907 votes 9.54%
• (32 Total Other Write-In Votes 0.16%)

Director; San Lorenzo Valley Water District (2 Elected)

• Bill Smallman
  7,155 votes 38.16%
• Margaret V. Bruce
  6,591 votes 35.15%
• Randall C. Brown
  4,935 votes 26.32%
• (70 Total Other Write-In Votes 0.37%)

Director; Soquel Creek Water District; 2 Year Short Term

• Rachél Lather
  13,087 votes 65.25%
• John Edward Bargetto
  6,906 votes 34.43%
• (63 Total Other Write-In Votes 0.31%)

Commissioner; Santa Cruz County Port District (3 Elected)

• Darren Gertler
  16,678 votes 17.87%
• Stephen Reed
  13,924 votes 14.92%
• Dennis L. "Denny" Smith
  13,703 votes 14.68%
• Bill Lee
  12,050 votes 12.91%
• Neli Cardoso
  11,491 votes 12.31%
• Vicki Vance
  10,232 votes 10.96%
• Lenny Hewitt
  8,467 votes 9.07%
• Bryan Kretsch
  6,586 votes 7.06%
• (188 Total Other Write-In Votes 0.20%)

Proposition 51 Funding for K-12 School and Community College Facilities.
Pass: 7,516,142 / 55.2% Yes votes ...... 6,104,294 / 44.8% No votes

Authorizes $9 billion in general obligation bonds for new construction and modernization of K-12 public school facilities; charter schools and vocational education facilities; and California Community Colleges facilities. 

Proposition 52 State Fees on Hospitals. Federal Medi-Cal Matching Funds.
Pass: 9,427,714 / 70.1% Yes votes ...... 4,026,710 / 29.9% No votes

This proposition is both an Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute. It extends indefinitely an existing statute that imposes fees on hospitals to fund Medi-Cal health care services, care for uninsured patients, and children’s health coverage.

Proposition 53 Revenue Bonds. Statewide Voter Approval.
Fail: 6,508,909 / 49.4% Yes votes ...... 6,660,555 / 50.6% No votes

Requires statewide voter approval before any revenue bonds can be issued or sold by the state for certain projects if the bond amount exceeds $2 billion.

Proposition 54 Legislation and Proceedings. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Pass: 8,607,266 / 65.4% Yes votes ...... 4,559,903 / 34.6% No votes

This proposition prohibits the Legislature from passing any bill unless published on the Internet for 72 hours before a vote; requires the Legislature to record its proceedings and post them on the Internet; and it authorizes the use of recordings.

Proposition 55 Tax Extension to Fund Education and Healthcare.
Pass: 8,594,273 / 63.3% Yes votes ...... 4,988,329 / 36.7% No votes

Extends by twelve years the temporary personal income tax increases enacted in 2012 on earnings over $250,000, with revenues allocated to K-12 schools, California Community Colleges, and, in certain years, healthcare. 

Proposition 56 Cigarette Tax to Fund Healthcare, Tobacco Use Prevention, Research, and Law Enforcement.
Pass: 8,980,448 / 64.4% Yes votes ...... 4,957,994 / 35.6% No votes

This proposition increases cigarette tax by $2.00 per pack, with equivalent increase on other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes containing nicotine.

Proposition 57 Juvenile Criminal Proceedings and Sentencing.
Pass: 8,790,723 / 64.5% Yes votes ...... 4,847,354 / 35.5% No votes

This proposition is both an Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute. It allows parole consideration for nonviolent felons; authorizes sentence credits for rehabilitation, good behavior, and education; and provides that a juvenile court judge decides whether a juvenile will be prosecuted as adult.

Proposition 58 English Proficiency. Multilingual Education.
Pass: 9,994,454 / 73.5% Yes votes ...... 3,598,855 / 26.5% No votes

Preserves requirement that public schools ensure students obtain English language proficiency. Requires school districts to solicit parent/community input in developing language acquisition programs. Requires instruction to ensure English acquisition as rapidly and effectively as possible. Authorizes school districts to establish dual-language immersion programs for both native and non-native English speakers.

Proposition 59 Corporations. Political Spending. Federal Constitutional Protections.
Pass: 6,845,943 / 53.2% Yes votes ...... 6,027,084 / 46.8% No votes

Asks whether California’s elected officials should use their authority to propose and ratify an amendment to the federal Constitution overturning the United States Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Citizens United ruled that laws placing certain limits on political spending by corporations and unions are unconstitutional.

Proposition 60 Adult Films. Condoms. Health Requirements.
Fail: 6,168,388 / 46.3% Yes votes ...... 7,146,039 / 53.7% No votes

Requires adult film performers to use condoms during filming of sexual intercourse. Requires producers to pay for performer vaccinations, testing, and medical examinations. Requires producers to post condom requirement at film sites.

Proposition 61 State Prescription Drug Purchases. Pricing Standards.
Fail: 6,254,342 / 46.8% Yes votes ...... 7,109,642 / 53.2% No votes

Prohibits state from buying any prescription drug from a drug manufacturer at price over lowest price paid for the drug by United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Exempts managed care programs funded through Medi-Cal.

Proposition 62 Death Penalty
Fail: 6,361,788 / 46.8% Yes votes ...... 7,218,625 / 53.2% No votes

Repeals death penalty and replaces it with life imprisonment without possibility of parole. Applies retroactively to existing death sentences. Increases the portion of life inmates’ wages that may be applied to victim restitution. 

Proposition 63 Firearms. Ammunition Sales.
Pass: 8,663,159 / 63.1% Yes votes ...... 5,070,772 / 36.9% No votes

Requires background check and Department of Justice authorization to purchase ammunition. Prohibits possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines. Establishes procedures for enforcing laws prohibiting firearm possession by specified persons. Requires Department of Justice’s participation in federal National Instant Criminal Background Check System. 

Proposition 64 Marijuana Legalization.
Pass: 7,979,041 / 57.1% Yes votes ...... 5,987,020 / 42.9% No votes

Legalizes marijuana under state law, for use by adults 21 or older. Imposes state taxes on sales and cultivation. Provides for industry licensing and establishes standards for marijuana products. Allows local regulation and taxation.

Proposition 65 Carry-Out Bags. Charges.
Fail: 6,222,547 / 46.1% Yes votes ...... 7,276,478 / 53.9% No votes

Redirects money collected by grocery and certain other retail stores through mandated sale of carryout bags. Requires stores to deposit bag sale proceeds into a special fund to support specified environmental projects. 

Proposition 66 Death Penalty. Procedures.
Pass: 6,626,159 / 51.1% Yes votes ...... 6,333,731 / 48.9% No votes

Changes procedures governing state court challenges to death sentences. Designates superior court for initial petitions and limits successive petitions. Requires appointed attorneys who take noncapital appeals to accept death penalty appeals. Exempts prison officials from existing regulation process for developing execution methods. 

Proposition 67 Ban on Single-Use Plastic Bags.
Pass: 7,228,900 / 53.3% Yes votes ...... 6,340,322 / 46.7% No votes

A "Yes" vote approves, and a "No" vote rejects, a statute that prohibits grocery and other stores from providing customers single-use plastic or paper carryout bags but permits sale of recycled paper bags and reusable bags.

Measure A Bonds -- Santa Cruz City High School District (55% Approval Required)
Pass: 45,033 / 75.80% Yes votes ...... 14,377 / 24.20% No votes

To upgrade local middle and high school classrooms, science labs, career training facilities, and technology infrastructure to support student achievement in math, science, engineering, English, social studies, visual/performing arts, technology, and skilled trades; acquire, renovate, construct/equip classrooms, sites/facilities; and improve school safety, security and disabled access; shall Santa Cruz City High School District issue $140 million in bonds at legal interest rates, with independent citizen oversight, annual audits, and all funds benefitting local middle and high schools?

Measure B Bonds -- Santa Cruz City Elementary School District (55% Approval Required)
Pass: 24,522 / 79.50% Yes votes ...... 6,324 / 20.50% No votes

To repair/upgrade neighborhood elementary school classrooms and facilities, including deteriorated roofs, plumbing, and electrical systems; remove hazardous materials;  renovate, construct/equip, acquire classrooms, facilities and technology infrastructure to support programs in reading, math, science, arts and technology; improve school safety/security; and replace outdated portables with modern classrooms; shall Santa Cruz City Elementary School District issue $68 million in bonds at legal interest rates, with independent citizen oversight, annual audits and all funds dedicated locally to Santa Cruz elementary schools?

Measure C Bonds -- Soquel Union Elementary School District (55% Approval Required)
Pass: 10,064 / 71.56% Yes votes ...... 4,000 / 28.44% No votes

To improve the quality of education with funding that cannot be taken by the State; repair/replace leaky roofs; make health, safety and security improvements; replace deteriorating plumbing and sewer systems; improve student access to computers and modern technology; modernize/construct classrooms, restrooms and school facilities; and upgrade inadequate electrical systems; shall Soquel Union Elementary School District issue $42,000,000 of bonds at legal interest rates, have an independent citizens' oversight committee, and have NO money used for administrative salaries?

Measure D Safety, Pothole Repair, Traffic Relief, Transit Improvement Measure -- County of Santa Cruz (2/3 Approval Required)
Pass: 83,816 / 67.78% Yes votes ...... 39,839 / 32.22% No votes

Safety, Pothole Repair, Traffic Relief, Transit Improvement Measure. In order to: improve children's safety around schools; repair potholes; repave streets; improve traffic flow on Highway 1; maintain senior/disabled transit; reduce global warming pollution by providing transportation options like sidewalks, buses, bike lanes, trails; preserve rail options; shall Santa Cruz County voters adopt an ordinance establishing a half-cent sales tax for 30 years, raising approximately $17 million annually, requiring citizen oversight, independent audits, and funds spent locally

Measure E Cannabis Business Tax Amendment -- County of Santa Cruz (Majority Approval Required)
Pass: 95,016 / 80.41% Yes votes ...... 23,143 / 19.59% No votes

To protect the quality of life in Santa Cruz County and to fund essential County services such as police, fire, emergency response, health services, youth and senior programs, job creation, housing, environmental protection, and animal shelter/adoption, shall Measure K be amended to revise the definition of cannabis to conform to State law and revise the definition of cannabis business or medical marijuana business to include all cannabis businesses with all funds staying local?

Measure F Sales Tax Extension -- City of Capitola (Majority Approval Required)
Pass: 4,081 / 81.08% Yes votes ...... 952 / 18.92% No votes

Without increasing taxes, shall the City of Capitola extend the 2017 sunset date of its current one-quarter percent sales tax for an additional ten years to protect essential city services and facilities, such as police and emergency safety programs, protect the wharf and beach from storms and rising sea levels and maintain and improve parks, sidewalks and bike lanes with all funds staying local?

Measure G Timing of Selecting Mayor/Vice Mayor -- City of Santa Cruz (Majority Approval Required)
Pass: 18,423 / 81.77% Yes votes ...... 4,106 / 18.23% No votes

Shall an amendment to the Charter of the City of Santa Cruz Section 604 be adopted?

Measure H Water System Charter Amendment -- City of Santa Cruz (Majority Approval Required)
Pass: 18,077 / 80.65% Yes votes ...... 4,336 / 19.35% No votes

Shall an amendment to the Charter of the City of Santa Cruz Section 1429 be adopted?

Measure I Cannabis Business Tax Amendment -- City of Santa Cruz (Majority Approval Required)
Pass: 22,637 / 84.08% Yes votes ...... 4,287 / 15.92% No votes

To protect the quality of life in the City of Santa Cruz and to fund essential city services such as police, fire, emergency response, youth and senior programs, job creation, housing, and environmental protection, shall Measure L be amended to clarify minor administrative procedures, revise the cannabis definition to conform to State law and revise the definition of cannabis business or medical marijuana business to include all cannabis businesses with all funds staying local?

Measure J Transient Occupancy Tax -- City of Watsonville (Majority Approval Required)
Pass: 9,628 / 75.24% Yes votes ...... 3,169 / 24.76% No votes

To protect the quality of life in Watsonville by limiting further cuts to police, fire, emergency services, parks and recreation, economic development, job creation, and essential city services; shall the City of Watsonville be authorized to levy an additional one percent of Transient Occupancy Tax on people staying at lodging facilities in the City?

Measure K Utility Users' Tax -- City of Watsonville (Majority Approval Required)
Pass: 9,057 / 72.54% Yes votes ...... 3,429 / 27.46% No votes

Shall the Utility Users Tax Ordinance be amended reducing the tax on telecommunications and video from 6% to 5.5%, exempt low income persons/seniors/disabled from energy taxes, adding wireless and modernizing ordinance to treat taxpayers the same regardless of technology; to generate approximately four million annually, until ended by voters or reduced by City Council to help fund essential services including: police, fire protection, youth programs, parks and recreation, and all money staying local?

Measure L Cannabis Business Tax -- City of Watsonville (Majority Approval Required)
Pass: 9,136 / 74.20% Yes votes ...... 3,176 / 25.80% No votes

To protect and preserve the quality of life in the City of Watsonville and to fund essential City services, shall an ordinance be adopted to impose a tax on cannabis cultivation of not more than $20 per square foot per year of canopy area, not more than 2.5% on gross receipts from manufactured cannabis product, and not more than 10% on gross receipts from the retail sale of cannabis?

Measure M Cannabis Business Tax -- City of Watsonville (Majority Approval Required)
Pass: 8,949 / 74.19% Yes votes ...... 3,113 / 25.81% No votes

If Measure L is approved by the voters, shall (i) 20% of its proceeds be used only to pay for law enforcement and crime prevention services, (ii) 15% used only to pay for fire services, (iii) 20% used only to pay for community development, (iv) 25% used only to pay for parks and community services, (v) 8% used only for the City libraries, and (vi) 12% only for non-profit social and community services?

Measure N Parcel Tax -- Boulder Creek Fire Protection District (2/3 Approval Required)
Pass: 4,457 / 83.84% Yes votes ...... 859 / 16.16% No votes

To provide local fire protection and emergency medical services and to ensure prompt response times for 9-1-1 emergency calls, shall an ordinance establishing an annual parcel tax of $35 per parcel for thirty years be established with all money going to protect local fire and emergency medical services, including the acquisition of new fire and emergency response vehicles, protective gear and equipment, and self-contained breathing apparatus be adopted by the Boulder Creek Fire Protection District?

Measure O Parcel Tax -- Zayante Fire Protection District (2/3 Approval Required)
Pass: 1,565 / 80.13% Yes votes ...... 388 / 19.87% No votes

To provide for immediate response to emergency calls, and continue to fund emergency vehicles, equipment and training for the volunteer fire district. Shall the Zayante Fire Protection District impose a $68 parcel tax to replace the $35 parcel tax from 1992? The general obligation bond would also retire in 2017 which cost the average home owner $24.00. The average increase per parcel would be $9.00 per year. The tax would begin July 1, 2017 and be adjusted annually?

Measure S Parcel Tax -- Aromas Tri-County Fire Protection District (Special Parcel Tax - 2/3 Approval Required)
Fail: 670 / 45.8% Yes votes ...... 793 / 54.2% No votes
   652 (45.82%) Yes / 771 (54.18%) No in Monterey County
   18 (45.00%) Yes / 22 (55.00%) No in Santa Cruz County

Shall the Ordinance that imposes a special tax in an amount not-to-exceed $230 dollars per developed parcel per year, and generating estimated revenues of between $410,000 and $487,500 dollars annually, with no termination date, be adopted to fund engine-company based paramedic services within the District?