March 5 Primary: Voters Consider County Supervisors, Prop 1
Next Tuesday, registered voters in Alameda County will weigh in on a number of issues in the non-partisan primary election, including possible changes to the Board of Supervisors, support for mental health and substance abuse treatment, and how recall elections are held.
California’s Primary is on March 5. It’s an open primary, which means voters are not limited to only choosing their party when considering a candidate for a position. If no single candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the two candidates with the most votes will return for the November 5 election.
The last day to register to vote in the election was February 20. However, you can fill out a provisional ballot and register to vote at your polling place on Tuesday.
Here are the top contests, propositions, and measures facing the County.
Alameda County Board of Supervisors District 4:
Incumbent Nate Miley has held the seat since 2000 and is the current President of the Board of Supervisors. He touts his long record of community improvements, including adding the Eden and Fairview Municipal Advisory Councils (MAC), a new fire station to Cherryland, and a new community center to Ashland. He adds that he facilitated new housing and $30 million in COVID relief funds to the area.
Challenger, Jennifer Esteen is a registered nurse in a psychiatric emergency unit. She is also a member of the Eden Area MAC. Esteen says she is focusing her run for Supervisor around housing, health care, jobs, and justice. Around housing, Esteen has supported expanding tenant protections to prevent displacement and homelessness. She says she gained expertise overseeing a billion-dollar budget at the Alameda Health System and dealt hands-on with problems in the unincorporated areas through her work on the MAC.
Proposition 1 - Behavioral Health Services Program
California Governor Gavin Newsom has advocated for Prop 1 to help build the state’s mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities and address housing for the unhoused. Passage would allow the state to issue $6.38 billion in bonds to fund housing for homeless individuals and veterans, including up to $4.4 billion for mental health care and drug or alcohol treatment facilities and $2.0 billion for housing for the unhoused. The bonds shift roughly $140 million of current tax revenue annually to pay for these new services.
Alameda County Measure B - Recall of Officers Charter Amendment
Fueled by the current process of recalling officials in the County, Measure B would replace Section 62 of the Alameda County Charter to make California state law govern the guide for any recall of elected county officials. The Measure's authors say aligning with state’s rules would make recall elections more straightforward and transparent. It also states that voting yes on Measure B would help avoid long and expensive legal battles at the taxpayers' expense.
Contests – President, Senate, House, and State
In addition to picking the next US President, local voters have other executive choices.
Twenty-nine people are running to replace the late US Senator Dianne Feinstein. The most widely known are Adam Schiff (D), Katie Porter (D), Barbara Lee (D), and Republican Steve Garvey (R).
Other Republican candidates for Feinstein’s seat include Sharleta Bassett, James P. Bradley, Eric Early, Denice Gary-Pandol, Sarah Sun Liew, James Macauley, Jonathan Reiss, Stefan Simchowitz, and Martin Veprauskas. Democrats lined up for the post include Sepi Gilani, Harmesh Kumar, Barbara Lee, Gail Lightfoot, Christina Pascucci, David Peterson, Douglas Howard Pierce, Katie Porter, Perry Pound, Raji Rab, and John Rose. Major Singh, Laura Garza, Don Grundmann, Forrest Jones, and Mark Ruzon make up the US Senate candidates with independent or no party preference who are interested in the post.
The U.S. House District 14 seat, currently held by Eric Swalwell (Democrat), is up for vote. Republicans Alison Hayden, Vin Kruttiventi, and Luis Reynoso are challenging him.
State Senate District 9 between Marisol Rubio and Tim Grayson. Check out our separate article on that contest. State Assembly District 20 representative, Liz Ortega, is running unopposed.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on March 5. For more information on what’s on your ballot and a polling place finder, visit vote411.org.