In the lead-up to the election over the last five weeks, the Voice has taken positions in a number of local races in the Nov. 8 election after interviewing candidates and advocates on both sides of local ballot measures. What follows are our recommendations.
Mountain View City Council
With four open seats and eight candidates for four-year terms, we endorse incumbents John McAlister and Chris Clark, and Lisa Matichak and Lucas Ramirez. (See editorial, Oct. 14)
Mountain View Whisman School District board
With three open seats and four candidates, we endorse incumbent Jose Gutierrez, and Tamara Wilson and Laura Blakely. (See editorial, Oct. 7)
Measure V
Vote yes on this citizen-backed initiative that would amend the city’s charter to protect renters from no-cause eviction, and help to stabilize rents in Mountain View by capping the amount that landlords of multi-unit rental housing built before 1995 can raise a current tenant’s rent in a single year. The competing, city-sponsored Measure W offers significantly weaker protections for renters. (See editorial, Oct. 14)
Measure A
Vote yes on this Santa Clara County bond measure that would raise $950 million to fund affordable housing in the county. (See editorial, Oct. 21)
Measure B
Vote yes on this measure, which would raise the county sales tax by one-half cent to fund $6 billion in transportation improvements in Santa Clara County. (See editorial, Oct. 21)
Measure GG
Vote yes on this Los Altos School District parcel tax, an annual $223-per-parcel tax to support district schools. The tax would replace the Measure E tax of $193 per parcel that expires next June. (See editorial, Oct. 28)
State Assembly, District 24
With two Democrats in a run-off contest for the seat being vacated by Rich Gordon, we endorse Vicki Veenker.
State Senate, District 13
We endorse Democratic incumbent Jerry Hill in this race.
U.S. House of Representatives, 18th District
We endorse Democratic incumbent Anna Eshoo in this race.
