Sales tax hike, election district switch on Stanislaus ballot with local, state races

Stanislaus County has a few lively races for city offices on Tuesday’s ballot, along with four local measures, several state offices and propositions, and a seat in Congress.

Turnout could be moderate, if the past is any guide. The November 2010 election, with generally the same offices at stake, drew 53 percent of the county’s registered voters. Turnout was 67 percent in the presidential election of 2012 but just 23 percent in the off-year election of 2013.

As of Oct. 20, the county had 214,209 registered voters. Republicans accounted for 41 percent and Democrats for 37 percent, while 17 percent had no party preference and the rest were in minor parties.

Turlock has provided much of the interest this time around, with Mike Brem and Gary Soiseth vying for the mayor’s seat being vacated by John Lazar. Five candidates are seeking two council seats.

Patterson has the most crowded election, with three people challenging Mayor Luis Molina and six seeking a pair of council seats. Riverbank, Waterford, Hughson and Newman also have city offices at stake.

Turlock voters will consider a switch to district elections and funding street repairs with a half-percentage-point increase in the sales tax for seven years. Oakdale will decide whether to extend an increase of the same size to help fund city services for another five years. Newman has an urban growth boundary on its ballot.

Several school and health care district boards in the county also have elections Tuesday.

The county is part of the 10th Congressional District, as well as two state Senate and two state Assembly districts that will be decided. Voters statewide will decide on races for governor and other offices, along with a high-profile water bond measure, a rainy-day fund proposal and other matters.

This story was originally published November 2, 2014 at 7:18 PM with the headline "Sales tax hike, election district switch on Stanislaus ballot with local, state races."