Election 2020: A look at the preliminary results from the March 3 ballot
TIBURON TOWN COUNCIL — Jack Ryan: Hawthorne Drive resident Jack Ryan appears to be on his way to victory in the three-way race for a seat on the Tiburon Town Council, garnering 37.7 percent of the vote with 100 percent of precincts reporting. With 755 votes, Ryan is holding a lead of more than 100 votes over Tiburon Planning Commission Chair Daniel Amir of Juno Road, who has 636 votes to date, or 31.8 percent of the vote. Amir's Planning Commission colleague Kathleen Defever, of Sugarloaf Drive, is in third, with 599 votes, or 29.9 percent.
SOUTHERN MARIN SUPERVISOR — Stephanie Moulton-Peters: Three-term Mill Valley Councilmember Stephanie Moulton-Peters has a commanding and likely unsurmountable lead in her bid to join the Marin Board of Supervisors, with 78.8 percent of the vote. By earning a simple-majority vote or better, she'll be named the winner and avoid a two-person runoff in the November general election. Her closest challenger is Tiburon's Jack Kenney, at 13.52 percent, while Sausalito's Bill Bailey has earned 7.32 percent of the vote.
MEASURE B SCHOOLS TAX — Failing: The Tamalpais Union High School District 10-year, $22.7 million-per-year parcel tax increase looks unlikely to pass, with 60.58 percent of the vote where two-thirds, or 66.7 percent, is needed to pass. Opponents say voters already approved a four-year, $149 parcel-tax on top of the existing tax just one year ago, that administrative changes have already cut costs, that enrollment is beginning a long-term decline, and that a flat-rate tax is unfair.
MEASURE C WILDFIRE TAX — Passing: The Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority's 10-cents-per-square-foot parcel tax for local and regional wildfire prevention and planning efforts in Marin appears likely to squeak out a narrow victory, with 67.1 percent of the vote where two-thirds, or 66.7 percent, is needed to pass. Proponents argue a coordinated countywide program can improve warning systems, evacuation routes and infrastructure, reduce hazardous vegetation, protect native species, expand defensible-space and safety inspections, support homeowners requiring assistance and expand preparedness programs. The city of Belvedere and the Tiburon Fire Protection District opted out.
MEASURE D GOLF COURSE SITE — Failing: An initiative that would require that any proposed change of use at the former San Geronimo Valley Golf Course site must be approved by a majority of Marin voters is heading for defeat, with 58.1 percent of voters opposed. Opponents of the initiative say the measure would block conservation and stop the Trust for Public Land from creating open space for recreational users of all kinds, not just golfers, and that a vote against would restore a salmon run, reserve a site for a new fire headquarters, improve local water quality and create new recreation and trail spaces at no cost to taxpayers.
MEASURE E BELVEDERE 'FIRE TAX' — Passing: Belvedere residents have strongly backed an initiative that will allow the city to adjust its budget appropriations limit to continue to spend collected property taxes that fund roughly half of the city’s contract with the Tiburon Fire Protection District for fire and emergency services. While it's neither a new tax nor an increase, the budget override requires voter approval every four years. It has 76.2 percent approval where only a simple majority was required.
MEASURE I SMART TAX — Failing: Marin and Sonoma County residents are rejecting a 30-year, quarter-cent sales-tax extension that would generate roughly $40 million per year to continue and expand Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District service. Marin voters backed the initiative with 53.5 percent approval, Sonoma County residents just 49.9 percent approval, where 66.7 percent is required.
U.S. PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY — Bernie Sanders: Former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders are running neck and neck for Marin's support as the Democratic nominee, with 25.2 percent of residents backing Biden to 23.3 percent for Sanders, a difference of fewer than 1,000 votes. Statewide, however, Sanders has 33.6 percent of the vote to Biden's 24.9 percent.
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 2 — Huffman vs. Mensing: In the five-person race, incumbent U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, earned 72.71 percent of the vote in Marin to Republican Dale Mensing's 15.45 percent. Districtwide, Huffman's support falls to 64.7 percent and Mensing's rises to 22.9 percent. As the top two vote-getters, both will advance to the November general election.
STATE ASSEMBLY, DISTRICT 10 — Levine vs. Sondergaard: In the four-person race, incumbent Assemblyman Marc Levine, D-San Rafael, has 62.4 percent support to Republican Ron Sondergaard's 18.9 percent and Democrat Veronica Jacobi's 16.1 percent. Districtwide, Levine has 59.8 percent support to Sondergaard's 20.9 percent and Jacobi's 16.5 percent. Levine and Sondergaard appear poised to advance to the November general election as the top two vote-getters.
PROPOSITION 13 SCHOOL BONDS — Failing: While Marin residents are backing the initiative with 57.2 percent support, the statewide results are the reverse, with 55.9 percent in opposition. The initiative would authorize the sale of $15 billion in bonds for school and college facilities across the state, including $9 billion for preschool and K-12 schools, $2 billion for community colleges and $4 billion for universities. Opponents note voters approved $9 billion in bonds to build and repair schools in 2016, and that Proposition 13 would allow districts to borrow more money, which could increase property taxes.