By Daniel Zarchy
Co-Editor in Chief
President
For those who have been living under a rock, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama beat Republican opponent Sen. John McCain for the presidency, becoming the nation’s first black president, first biracial president and first president from Hawaii. Obama also shattered records for fundraising and advertising expenditures, raising over $650 million from 3 million donors, more than double the war chest that John Kerry raised in 2004. Obama and running mate Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware are getting ready to hit the ground running; Obama has been meeting with military and intelligence leaders, reportedly selecting Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff and buying a new puppy for his daughters.
Propositions
In proposition news, Santa Cruz saw a split in the highly watched and emotional issues, with the defeat of Proposition 4 but the passage of the highly controversial Proposition 8, a ban on gay marriage. The two armies fighting over Proposition 8 raised over $74 million combined, including a heavy sum from Santa Cruz County: over $65,000 for the support campaign ($60,000 from one family) and over $113,000 for the opposition campaign.
Santa Cruz City Council
Though the results are not final, the early count shows incumbent Mayor Ryan Coonerty capturing the lion’s share of the votes, securing his re-election with 19.37 percent of the vote. Don Lane received 15.74 percent, winning the second seat. Katherine Beiers won the third seat with 13.22 percent, but could be pushed out in the next week as counting continues. The fourth seat remains a toss-up, with incumbent councilmember Tony Madrigal narrowly edging out David Terrazas by a slim nine votes. However, over a thousand absentee and vote-by-mail ballots still wait to be counted, so the third seat could change and the fourth seat remains a wild card.
Congress/Legislature
Not coming as a surprise in liberal Santa Cruz, Congressman Sam Farr (D) was reelected to his ninth term with almost 83 percent of the vote. Democratic State Sen. Joe Simitian easily held onto the 11th Senate District. Fellow Democrat Bill Monning, a Carmel lawyer, won a seat in the Assembly representing Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay Area, succeeding termed-out Assemblyman John Laird. Nationally, the Democrats picked up at least six Senate seats and 20 House seats, with three more Senate races pending on further recounts or runoffs. This leaves the Senate count at 57 for Democrats, just short of the coveted 60 seats, which would allow Democrats to break a Republican filibuster.
1A – Safe, Reliable High-Speed Train Bond Act
YES: 52.2% NO: 47.8%
02 – Standards for Confining Farm Animals
YES: 63.2% NO: 36.8%
03 – Children’s Hospital Bond Act. Grant Program.
YES: 54.8% NO: 45.2%
04 – Parent Notification Before Terminating Minor’s Pregnancy
YES: 47.9% NO: 52.1%
05 – Nonviolent Drug Offense. Sentencing, Parole, Rehab
YES: 40.1% NO: 59.9%
06 – Police, Law Enforcement Funding. Criminal Laws.
YES: 30.7% NO: 69.3%
07 – Renewable Energy Generation
YES: 35.1% NO: 64.9%
08 – Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry
YES: 52.5% NO: 47.5%
09 – Criminal Justice System. Victims’ Rights. Parole.
YES: 53.5% NO: 46.5%
10 – Alternatives Fuel Vehicles and Renewable Energy Bonds
YES: 40.2% NO: 59.8%
11 – Redistricting
YES: 50.6% NO: 49.4%
12 – Veterans’ Bond
YES: 63.5% NO: 36.5%
Measure E- Santa Cruz Clean Water
YES:76.35% NO:23.65%
