SALINAS VALLEY — Local voters in South Monterey County have chosen whether or not to support several school bond measures listed on the ballot in California’s primary election on Super Tuesday, March 3.
As of Monterey County Elections’ final report Tuesday night, King City Union School District’s two bonds — Measures A and B — have currently received just enough votes to be passing.
Measure A received 652 yes votes, or 55.02 percent, while Measure B earned 671 yes votes, or 55.45 percent. Both bond measures require at least 55 percent of voter approval to pass.
Measure A would improve student safety and campus security, upgrade emergency notification systems, replace aging portable classrooms and repair restrooms and playgrounds at Del Rey Elementary, Santa Lucia Elementary, Chalone Peaks Middle, King City Arts Magnet School and King City Early Education Center. The measure would issue just over $19.3 million in bonds, averaging less than 3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for 34 years.
Measure B would renovate and modernize aging classrooms and facilities including leaking roofs, outdated plumbing and electrical wiring, build new classrooms and upgrade classroom technology at the aforementioned school sites. The measure would issue nearly $19 million in bonds, averaging less than 3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for 34 years.
Soledad Unified School District’s Measure E, however, has not received enough votes to pass, according to the latest election results.
The measure, which also needs at least 55 percent of voter approval, currently has 651 yes votes, or 51.75 percent.
Measure E would allow Soledad’s teachers and staff to live in the community and improve the school district’s ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees by constructing teacher-staff rental housing. It would authorize $11.5 million in bonds, with projected levies of less than 3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation through 2049.
Districtwide contest
Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) will advance to the November general election for the U.S. House of Representatives District 20 race. The Democratic incumbent received the majority of votes Tuesday with 72,885, or 65.2 percent, while his challenger Adam Bolanos Snow had 12,450, or 11.1 percent.
Panetta will now face off against Republican candidate Jeff Gorman, who received the second highest amount of votes with 26,525, or 23.7 percent, in November.
Statewide results
California voters also chose the presidential candidate to represent their party in the November general election. In the Democratic race, Bernie Sanders received the most votes, with just over 1 million, or 33.6 percent, followed by Joe Biden with 744,000, or 24.9 percent.
President Donald Trump secured the Republican nomination, garnering more than 1.4 million votes, or 92.6 percent.
The only statewide ballot measure, Proposition 13, was shot down by voters, receiving 2.8 million no votes, or 55.9 percent. The measure would have authorized $15 billion in state general obligation bonds for construction and modernization of public education facilities.
