Although one poll worker on Santa Barbara’s Eastside called it the lowest voter turnout in memory, Tuesday, June 3, was indeed election day in California, and the results for Santa Barbara County are already rolling in.
As of about 9:30 p.m., the county elections office had already compiled the absentee ballots and a few of the polling places. About 45 percent of the votes have been counted so far. While the results are not yet official and some of the tighter races are far from decided, the results are already giving insight into how Santa Barbara County is voting.
Here’s a quick rundown:
1st District Supervisor: SALUD CARBAJAL WINS
For the first time in decades, the race for the 1st District Supervisor seat was over before it started, because simply no one wanted to battle Salud Carbajal, whose likeability is rivaled only by his massive campaign war-chest. The bigger question that Santa Barbara voters may one day decide is, “Where does Salud go from here?”
Salud Carbajal (ran unopposed): 97.25 % of votes
3rd District Supervisor: NOVEMBER RUN-OFF LIKELY
Billed by this paper as possibly the most important race in county history for the district that spans from Isla Vista to the Santa Ynez Valley, neither one of the top three candidates seems like they’ll be able to get enough voters to cross the 50 percent mark and derail a November run-off. Based on absentee ballots, Doreen Farr seems to have landed her spot for November, but it’s still very much up in the air between Steve Pappas and David Smyser.
Doreen Farr: 33.7 % of the vote
Steve Pappas: 24.24 % of the vote
David Smyser: 22.69 % of the vote
Dr. David Bearman: 9.9 % of the vote
Victoria Pointer: 9.16 % of the vote
4th District Supervisor: JONI GRAY WINNING
The 4th District just loves Joni Gray, and they showed as much with this vote. John Sterling, a Lompoc native and former police chief of Santa Maria, probably won’t muster enough progressive support to tip the scales. This probably won’t be the last we hear from Sterling either.
Joni Gray: 60.44 % of the vote
John Sterling: 39.39 % of the vote
Judge: JOHN MACKINNON WINNING
Though considered young for a judge, MacKinnon got the support of the law enforcement professionals who count, and he’s out in front at this early stage – by double – with a commanding lead. No surprise there, but what is surprising is that Lynn Cutler, who dropped out of the race awhile ago, is actually ahead of Kevin Ready, at least based on absentee ballots.
John MacKinnon: 38.97 % of the vote
Jed Beebe: 21.12 % of the vote
Lynn Cutler: 20.7 % of the vote
Kevin Ready: 18.6 % of the vote
Measure V: PASSING
The bond measure to fund Santa Barbara City College was supported by seemingly everyone in town, from conservative anti-tax groups to liberal politicians. SBCC’s relevance in Santa Barbara’s community was applauded with this vote, although about one-third of voters so far were against it.
Yes: 67.97% of the vote
No: 32.03% of the vote
Prop 98: REJECTED
At least Santa Barbara County voters weren’t duped by the developers who tried using the dreaded eminent domain as a bogeyman to protect the interest of landlords statewide against rent control and other future affordability schemes. It also seems that the rest of California also voted against this prop.
Yes: 39.71 % of the vote countywide; 44 % statewide
No: 60.29 % of the vote countywide; 55 % statewide
Prop 99: PASSING
The counter-attack against Prop 98 that allows rent control to exist seems likely to pass, and Santa Barbara County voters approved it resoundingly.
Yes: 72.12 % of the vote countywide; 65 % statewide
No: 27.88 % of the vote countywide; 34 % statewide
Partisan Primaries
In addition to these votes, there were no surprises in the primary party races for state and federal posts. Democrats stood behind Congresswoman Lois Capps, state Assemblymember Pedro Nava, and former state Assemblymember Hannah-Beth Jackson, who is running for the state Senate. Democrats also came out behind Marta Ann Jorgensen, a nurse and environmental advocate from Solvang who is running against incumbent Elton Gallegly for the 24th Congressional District.
Gallegly, for his part, got the support of the Republican constituents in his district. Republicans also supported Carpinteria’s Greg Gandrud in his bid to defeat Pedro Nava; Finland-born San Luis Obispo country resident Matt Kokkonen, who is trying to take out Lois Capps; and Tony Strickland, who is running against Hannah-Beth Jackson.
See a breakdown of the results for yourself at here. And check back with Independent.com later tonight and early tomorrow morning for reaction and analysis on these results, plus photos of winners and losers.