Ballot’s most popular choice? Measure L
What’s more popular in Stanislaus County than marijuana? More widely embraced than Hillary Clinton? Got more votes than winners Jeff Denham and Adam Gray combined? Asphalt.
Looking at the final Nov. 8 ballot results, we were surprised that Measure L won so handily.
Needing a two-thirds majority, the half-percent sales tax increase dedicated to fixing roads had failed in countywide votes twice before. This time, 71.9 percent of voters – 121,527 in all – voted yes. That’s more votes than any other candidate or measure on the ballot. What made the difference? We’ve come up with only three plausible explanations.
One, the Stanislaus Taxpayers Association changed its mind. The organization isn’t large, but we’re guessing a lot of people who aren’t members pay attention to the association’s recommendation – especially when it changes from a previous no to yes. STA President Dave Thomas refuses to take any credit, but he noted that “14 years of trying to be objective” – some would say skeptical – of tax measures might have swayed a few.
Two, people are finally fed up driving on bad roads and having their gas-tax dollars spent in other counties.
Three, people like the new Pelandale overpass. Instead of being a bare-bones Highway 99 cloverleaf, it’s both functional and, well, attractive – at least as attractive as concrete gets. Modesto rarely gets road improvements that provide more than the basics.
Or maybe people were just feeling generous. Every monetary measure on the ballot – bonds in Newman and Waterford and two each in Turlock and Hughson, plus all statewide measures involving money – passed.
In the presidential race, Hillary Clinton was less popular in Stanislaus County (46.8 percent) than in Merced (52.7) and San Joaquin (54.5), but percentages don’t tell all of the story. Clinton got 81,647 votes in Stanislaus – the highest for any presidential candidate in this century, possibly ever. And Trump’s 78,494 votes surpassed Barack Obama’s 2012 total.
In the Senate race between Democrats Loretta Sanchez and Kamala Harris, 33,000 Stanislaus County residents didn’t bother to vote – amply demonstrating the flaw in the top-two primary system.
Rep. Jeff Denham got a stronger challenge from Democrat Michael Eggman this year than in 2014, but still won quite handily. In Stanislaus County, Denham actually improved his numbers – ever so slightly. In 2014, Denham polled 56.4 percent of the county’s vote; in 2016, it was 56.8. Voters in San Joaquin more strongly favored Eggman. Congratulations to Rep. Denham on winning his fourth term.
Congratulations also to Assemblyman Gray, who got 66.8 percent of Stanislaus County’s votes. The rest went to Merced’s Greg Opinski, who is under indictment for bribery in Merced County and didn’t campaign. Those who voted for Opinski, we’re guessing, would have voted for Ima Yetti if there had been an “R” next to the name.
Congratulations also to Gil Esquer and Amy Bublak, the first Turlock council members elected by district. In one of the county’s closest races, Bublak beat Steven Nascimento by 33 votes. Heath Flora’s first elected office will be in the Assembly, where he replaces Kristin Olsen, a hard act to follow.
Finally, our favorite number: 73.6 percent – the highest election turnout in 26 countywide elections this century. Three times more people voted than in November 2015, 2013 and 2011. This is the best possible argument for getting rid – as is now required by state law – of off-year elections. The sooner the better. Democracy works best when people participate.
This story was originally published December 14, 2016 at 2:19 PM with the headline "Ballot’s most popular choice? Measure L."