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Monterey County Elections & Politics Articles



Image caption: Businessman and Republican activist Howard Jarvis was the main advocate for Prop 13 in the 1970s.
How Prop 13 Drives Economic and Racial Inequality

Proposition 13, the popular tax reform law passed in 1978, has driven increases in economic inequality and racial wealth disparities in California. Here’s how.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Sheriff-elect Tina Nieto's leadership team will include local faces.

After an overwhelming victory on Election Day, Sheriff-elect Tina Nieto was ready to get started on her transition plans from Marina police chief to Monterey County sheriff immediately. She'd already heard from outgoing Sheriff Steve Bernal on election night to…

Image caption: California's State Capitol, seat of a government with a colorful history, to say the least.
California’s Governmental Structure: From Chaos to Compromise

California's government was born out of utter chaos. Here's how the state developed some sort of order to the way it operates, and how it makes and enforces laws.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Pacific Grove and Washington school district races too close to call.

Monterey County Elections officials announced late Friday that they are planning to "escalate" manual tallies in two Pacific Grove races—City Council between Debby Beck and Tina Rau plus a measure to shrink the council size—and the race for Washington Union…

Image caption: Felicia Gold casts her ballot at the California Museum on Nov. 8, 2022.
How California Could Count Every Vote Faster

California has expanded voting access and participation, but that can delay election results. Are there ways to count votes faster without undermining election security?

King City Rustler logo LOCAL NEWS
General Election 2022: South Monterey County voters turn down tax measures

MONTEREY COUNTY — South Monterey County voters made their voices heard last Tuesday by deciding the fate of a few local measures, as well as choosing multiple candidates for city councils, school boards and other special districts in the area. …

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Water activist Liesbeth Visscher leads in Marina City Council race against Les Martin.

In the only contested City Council race in Marina, Liesbeth Visscher, chair of the group Citizens for Just Water, has an 8-percent lead against Les Martin, a Navy retiree, to represent District 4. As of the ballot count at 5…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Robert Rivas will be the next speaker of the California Assembly.

Robert Rivas, who was elected on Tuesday to his third term in the California Assembly, will become California's next Speaker of the Assembly. It is a critical and powerful role in Sacramento, and one that Rivas' Democratic colleagues unanimously voted…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Two hospital boards see upsets in Nov. 8 election.

Two hospital boards—including a brand new board representing North County—saw upsets of incumbents by voters on Nov. 8.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Soledad Mayor Anna Velazquez wins a second term; Fernando Cabrera leads for council over two incumbents.

Political newcomer Fernando Cabrera is leading in a three-way race for two open seats on Soledad City Council, while Mayor Anna Velazquez has a strong lead over challenger Maria Corralejo, who is a member of City Council.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Jimmy Panetta and Zoe Lofgren sail to reelection in redrawn congressional districts.

There’s no respite in the schedule of a sitting member of Congress. The day after celebrating his reelection for a fourth term on Tuesday, Nov. 8, Rep. Jimmy Panetta had a full schedule of events taking him all over Monterey…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Marina Police Chief Tina Nieto wins a decisive victory as the next Monterey County sheriff.

Tina Nieto made history on Tuesday, Nov. 8. She is poised to become the first woman, first person of color and first openly gay person to be elected as Monterey County sheriff, and along with two other Latinas who were…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Glenn Church wins a strong lead for District 2 supervisor.

North County native Glenn Church seems poised to win as Monterey County supervisor for District 2 in his race against Regina Gage. As of 8am Wednesday, Nov. 9, Church led with 59 percent of the vote, compared to Gage’s 41…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
City Councilmember Scott Donaldson leads early in effort to unseat the Del Rey Oaks mayor.

In the minutes before the first county election results come in at around 8:20pm on Tuesday, Nov. 8, the mood is buoyant in John Uy’s house.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
In P.G., Mayor Peake and Councilmember Amelio easily win re-election.

As rain poured off and on in Pacific Grove on Election Day, council candidate Tina Rau made a decision to move the party from the yard of her small home to the shelter of a neighbor’s duplex parking garage across…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Carmel Councilmember Jeff Baron secures another term; Alissandra Dramov is a likely winner.

Just as he did four years ago, Carmel Councilmember Jeff Baron took to the streets of the village and knocked on a lot of doors in the lead up to the Nov. 8 election. Combined with listening to what was…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Measure Q, a countywide childcare initiative, fails at the ballot box, while school bonds succeed.

Despite having strong support from the largest industries in the county— agriculture and hospitality—along with city and county leaders and grassroots organizations, Measure Q fell far short of passing on Election Day, Nov. 8.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Dawn Addis and Robert Rivas handily win seats representing parts of Monterey County in the California Assembly.

Dawn Addis, a member of Morro Bay City Council, will be Monterey County's newest Assembly member in District 30, a newly drawn district.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
In P.G., Mayor Peake and Councilmember Amelio easily win; the race is for third place.

As rain poured off and on in Pacific Grove on Election Day, council candidate Tina Rau made a decision to move the party from the yard of her small home to the shelter of a neighbor's duplex parking garage across…

Image caption: Don't get stomped.
Could Mastodon Become the New Twitter?

Following Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter, droves are fleeing the social network and joining Mastodon, an open-source federated service in the 'Fediverse.'

Featured

California cities switch to more inclusive, district-based elections system.
Voting Rights...the Final Frontier
Pushed by activists, cities move from at-large elections to district races.
There are more than 300 community service districts in California.
Community Services Districts, Explained
Areas that the county overlooks can form their own local governments.
California continues to work on legislation that would make voting easier.
Voting Rites
And more bills are on the way to help you make your mark on Election Day.
The cycle of crime and homelessness is escalating, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Homelessness and Crime in California: Even More Complex Than You Think
What causes the cycle of homelessness and crime, and how to stop it.
The California Supreme Court has defined the state’s legal and political agenda for more than 170 years.
How the California Supreme Court Blazes Legal Trails
From its beginnings in the Gold Rush, the state Supreme Court continues to define the state today.
Translated from the Greek, “Democracy” means “people power.” How much power do the people have in California?
People Power! What Is Democracy, and How Does It Work in California?
The Goddess of Democracy is alive and well in California, but that hasn’t always been true.
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