Election verdict: Low turn-out, decisive results
With semi-official final results, yesterday's election produced a vote turn-out lower than two years ago. Three of the four incumbents won re-election (Andrews, Monahan and Brennan.) Another familiar face, retired Police Chief Mike Tracy led the field, which meant Councilmember Ed Summers narrowly lost re-election.Measure A, the proposed sales tax increase, lost 55-45%. The voters in Ventura opted for a tight rein of finances, which means the deep cuts made this year will need to be maintained. Paradoxically, five of the top six vote getters in the Council race supported Measure A (the sixth, Councilmember Andrews, remained neutral.)
The so-called "view protection ordinance" was decisively rejected 3-1. The anti big box ordinance went down to defeat by a margin similar to the sales tax increase.
Voters also rejected sharp attacks. The sharpest critics of local government did not do well in the Council race and the avalanche of attack mail from the police union backfired.
Interpreting the reasons for election outcomes is always trickier than interpreting the results. Many factors will be cited by winners and losers, but the bottom line remains the same: voters signaled they are looking for an economical approach to local government, with more emphasis on economic development and living within our means.
By their nature, elections never make everyone happy. But the biggest disappointment of the night was the poor turn-out. A lot was at stake yesterday, yet more than 70% of the voters didn't bother to vote. That's the most serious challenge ahead of us: more effectively engaging our community to participate in the decision-making that shapes our common future.
posted by Rick Cole at
8:25 AM
4 Comments:
That low turn out figure is very surprising and disappointing. I was surprised at how many people did not know Mr. Monahan was supporting Measure B. Thank goodness it failed. Now we need to figure out how to do economic development that "pencils out" with all the fees that are charged. We need to educate our citizens that all developers are not filthy rich money grabbers trying to make a killing on each and every development project and without folks willing to take risks and new development projects we cannot meet the housing and job needs to keep our young people here after we invest in their education let alone our city budget needs.
The low turnout was the reason 3 of the incumbents were re-elected. With the inclusion of Mike Tracy the "Good Ol' Boys Network" will reign supreme. Watch out for more "back-door dealings".
I am certainly glad the citizens of Ventura voted against Measure "A", telling the Gang in the Ivory Tower that they really don't think the truth is being told at all times.
With the "back-door tax increase" concerning the increase of the electric rate the city should be in good shape, now if possible, is a real good time to start telling the truth. What will the millions of dollars that the city will grab on the electric rate increase be used for?
This past Tuesday, my experience voting with the AVC EDGE brought serious problems and questions as to the integrity of Sequoia systems used at city poling precincts.
AVC Edge machine repeatedly jams ballots and they have to reset it. It beeps after feeding ballot, and I asked if it tabulated votes- no one knew.
Poll workers are woefully undertrained and underpaid. Supervisor had to call VCounty Election Division Office for directions to reset, or ask other novice workers.
I worked elections before and it was nightmarish. Complete disconnect and disregard of office to paid poll workers, who serve out of duty- money is negliable.
Now the county election office was surprised, it seems the election turnout was larger than first thought, it was bigger than last mid-term election. How Bout dat?
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