In The News
Alejo holds early lead in Dist. 2 race
Wednesday November 05, 2008
The Watsonville Register-Pajaronian, November 5, 2008
Alejo holds early lead in Dist. 2 race
Posted: Wednesday, Nov 5th, 2008
Luis Alejo wasn't about to take it easy on Election Day.
Alejo, vying for the District 2 seat on the Watsonville City Council against Joe Ortiz, started his day at 6 a.m., waving political signs with supporters on the corner of Riverside Drive and Main Street.
Around 4 p.m., he held a rally along with District 1 incumbent Manuel Bersámin at the Watsonville Plaza. Later, he headed for Santa Cruz to do an interview on Community Television before wrapping up his day by returning to Watsonville for an election party at the Services Employees International Union's local office.
"I'm pretty excited," Alejo said during the rally at the plaza. "I think we're going to have a good time tonight and I'm sure it's going to be a victory party because we have a lot of support."
Whether it was a victory party was unsure as of press time, as results of local elections were unavailable. Santa Cruz County did release vote-by-mail totals - 25.3 percent of county voters cast their ballot by that method - and early returns looked good for Alejo, who garnered 129 absentee votes to just 42 for Ortiz.
The other City Council races featured Bersámin's battle to retain his seat against Gabriel Gonzalez, and the three-way battle in District 6 between incumbent Edward Din and challengers Emilio Martinez and Tony Gomez.
Gonzalez received 87 votes from absentee voters, compared to 83 for Bersámin. Din picked up 233 votes, while Martinez was close behind with 209, followed by Gomez with 71.
Bersámin, a former mayor, said he was "cautiously optimistic" about winning his race against Gonzalez, who has received nearly $10,000 in combined financial support from the Watsonville Regional Airport Promotion and from pilots Ken and Gabrielle Adelman. Ortiz also received donations from the Adelmans and WRAP.
"I wish I could be like (Barack) Obama," Bersámin said at 4 p.m. Tuesday, "but my thing is, I've got to keep working until 8 p.m. Whatever I can do, whether it be knocking on doors or calling people, I'll be doing it."
Bersámin said he was concerned about the amount of money coming into local politics, adding that if he's re-elected, he would seek campaign finance limits. Bersámin, a Hartnell College administrator, lists battling gangs and helping bring the Civic Plaza to the west side among his accomplishments.
Gonzalez, who is in real estate, has called for improved street maintenance, building a business-friendly climate and creative approaches to provide affordable housing for low-income residents.
Like Alejo, he started early, passing out fliers door-to-door beginning at 4 a.m. He campaigned all day, then held a campaign party in the evening.
"I'm optimistic," Gonzalez said. "We took the absentee vote, which is something we didn't take in 2004. We got the absentee vote and I have a really good feeling about today."
Gonzalez said he expected the race to remain close.
"The polls are closed," he said. "Now all we have to do is wait for the results. If they are close, I believe that both sides would ask for a recount."
Din, a hospital administrator, has argued that his financial background makes him the best District 6 choice to be on the council in these tough economic times.
Martinez, a private investigator and a former member of the Planning Commission, said his goal is a revitalized downtown, and has said the city needs to improve its code enforcement.
While slightly behind in absentee results, Martinez predicted that an increased Latino vote, as a result of Obama's historic campaign, would catapult him to victory. Martinez, who speaks Spanish, said he hit the Latino market hard in his effort to unseat Din.
"I think I'm going to run away with it," said Martinez, who said he felt, coming into Election Day, that he'd be fine as long as he was within 50 votes after absentee results were tallied.
Din expressed equal confidence that he would emerge the victor.
"I think my chances are great," he said. "I didn't just reach out to Latinos, I reached out to the entire district, and the feedback I received was entirely positive."
Gomez, a Pacific Gas & Electric mechanic, has run a small-scale campaign in his second attempt to get a spot on the council. He said he would like to ensure that growth doesn't outpace the capacity of city services.
Alejo and Ortiz are seeking the council seat currently held by Oscar Rios, who decided not to seek re-election.
Ortiz, a retired carpenter, has called for encouraging the development of small businesses through deregulation. Alejo, an attorney, a member of the Planning Commission and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, said he wants to bring in more jobs, improve schools and reduce crime.
Alejo said it was special to take part in the same election in which Obama was vying to be the first African-American president.
"It made it more exciting for me," Alejo said. "It inspired me to run the same year. I think he inspired people to be active at the local level."
..............................
*Photos by Tarmo Hannula*
(Published in 11/5/08 edition)
Alejo, vying for the District 2 seat on the Watsonville City Council against Joe Ortiz, started his day at 6 a.m., waving political signs with supporters on the corner of Riverside Drive and Main Street.
Around 4 p.m., he held a rally along with District 1 incumbent Manuel Bersámin at the Watsonville Plaza. Later, he headed for Santa Cruz to do an interview on Community Television before wrapping up his day by returning to Watsonville for an election party at the Services Employees International Union's local office.
"I'm pretty excited," Alejo said during the rally at the plaza. "I think we're going to have a good time tonight and I'm sure it's going to be a victory party because we have a lot of support."
Whether it was a victory party was unsure as of press time, as results of local elections were unavailable. Santa Cruz County did release vote-by-mail totals - 25.3 percent of county voters cast their ballot by that method - and early returns looked good for Alejo, who garnered 129 absentee votes to just 42 for Ortiz.
The other City Council races featured Bersámin's battle to retain his seat against Gabriel Gonzalez, and the three-way battle in District 6 between incumbent Edward Din and challengers Emilio Martinez and Tony Gomez.
Gonzalez received 87 votes from absentee voters, compared to 83 for Bersámin. Din picked up 233 votes, while Martinez was close behind with 209, followed by Gomez with 71.
Bersámin, a former mayor, said he was "cautiously optimistic" about winning his race against Gonzalez, who has received nearly $10,000 in combined financial support from the Watsonville Regional Airport Promotion and from pilots Ken and Gabrielle Adelman. Ortiz also received donations from the Adelmans and WRAP.
"I wish I could be like (Barack) Obama," Bersámin said at 4 p.m. Tuesday, "but my thing is, I've got to keep working until 8 p.m. Whatever I can do, whether it be knocking on doors or calling people, I'll be doing it."
Bersámin said he was concerned about the amount of money coming into local politics, adding that if he's re-elected, he would seek campaign finance limits. Bersámin, a Hartnell College administrator, lists battling gangs and helping bring the Civic Plaza to the west side among his accomplishments.
Gonzalez, who is in real estate, has called for improved street maintenance, building a business-friendly climate and creative approaches to provide affordable housing for low-income residents.
Like Alejo, he started early, passing out fliers door-to-door beginning at 4 a.m. He campaigned all day, then held a campaign party in the evening.
"I'm optimistic," Gonzalez said. "We took the absentee vote, which is something we didn't take in 2004. We got the absentee vote and I have a really good feeling about today."
Gonzalez said he expected the race to remain close.
"The polls are closed," he said. "Now all we have to do is wait for the results. If they are close, I believe that both sides would ask for a recount."
Din, a hospital administrator, has argued that his financial background makes him the best District 6 choice to be on the council in these tough economic times.
Martinez, a private investigator and a former member of the Planning Commission, said his goal is a revitalized downtown, and has said the city needs to improve its code enforcement.
While slightly behind in absentee results, Martinez predicted that an increased Latino vote, as a result of Obama's historic campaign, would catapult him to victory. Martinez, who speaks Spanish, said he hit the Latino market hard in his effort to unseat Din.
"I think I'm going to run away with it," said Martinez, who said he felt, coming into Election Day, that he'd be fine as long as he was within 50 votes after absentee results were tallied.
Din expressed equal confidence that he would emerge the victor.
"I think my chances are great," he said. "I didn't just reach out to Latinos, I reached out to the entire district, and the feedback I received was entirely positive."
Gomez, a Pacific Gas & Electric mechanic, has run a small-scale campaign in his second attempt to get a spot on the council. He said he would like to ensure that growth doesn't outpace the capacity of city services.
Alejo and Ortiz are seeking the council seat currently held by Oscar Rios, who decided not to seek re-election.
Ortiz, a retired carpenter, has called for encouraging the development of small businesses through deregulation. Alejo, an attorney, a member of the Planning Commission and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, said he wants to bring in more jobs, improve schools and reduce crime.
Alejo said it was special to take part in the same election in which Obama was vying to be the first African-American president.
"It made it more exciting for me," Alejo said. "It inspired me to run the same year. I think he inspired people to be active at the local level."
..............................
*Photos by Tarmo Hannula*
(Published in 11/5/08 edition)