Election 2010

By Hudson Sangree
hsangree@sacbee.com

After months of watching their City Council bicker and feud, Davis residents got to weigh in on remaking the council by picking two of five candidates - all of whom vowed to bring back reasoned debate to the dais.

Early returns pointed to two early leaders: Joseph Krovoza, 47, a development director at UC Davis, and Rochelle Swanson, 40, a land-use consultant and lawyer. With mail-in ballots and two of 38 precincts counted, Krovoza had 37 percent of the vote; Swanson had 27 percent.

Sydney Vergis, 28, a graduate student and former Sutter County planner, had 24 percent; Jon Li, 62, a longtime resident who has served on various city commissions, had 7 percent; and Daniel Watts, 28, a UC Davis law student, had 5 percent.

"I was humbled by the number of people who supported me," Krovoza said in an e-mail message. "Davis is a terrific town, and I can't wait to serve.

There was little question that voters would renew a measure that gives them final say over developing farmland.

The landmark Measure J was rechristened on the ballot as Measure R, which was passing, after two of 38 precincts were counted, with 75 percent approval. Also on the ballot in Davis was Measure Q, a proposal to extend a half-cent sales tax through 2016 to help fund city services. It had an early lead of 72 percent to 28 percent.

Woodland

In the Woodland City Council Race, two incumbents - Mayor Marlin "Skip" Davies and dentist William Marble - were poised to retain their seats, defeating perennial challenger Bobby Harris. With 13 of 23 precincts reporting, Davies totaled 47 percent, Marble had 41 percent, and Harris had 12 percent.

The race took a sideways turn when Harris, who lives in a tent and writes a blog, accused city officials of intentionally omitting a Spanish translation of his candidate statement from the Yolo County ballot pamphlet mailed to voters. The city called it a mistake but paid thousands of dollars to reprint Harris' statement in Spanish.

Woodland voters also weighed in on four fiscal measures as the city faced a nearly $6 million budget deficit.

With 13 of 23 precincts reporting, they were leaning, 55 percent to 45 percent, toward approving Measure V to increase the city's sales tax by a quarter cent to 9 percent. Here's how early returns stacked up on three advisory measures to spend the money if Measure V passed: Measure S - library funding - 65 percent yes, 35 percent no; Measure T - parks funding - 64 percent yes, 36 percent no: Measure U - police and fire funding - 67 percent yes, 33 percent no.

Winters

With 1 of 3 precincts counted, Winters residents were closely divided, with 51 percent voting no and 49 percent voting yes, on Measure W. The measure would double the existing utility rates for phone and electric services from 4.75 percent to 9.5 percent, an increase of $10 to $15 a month for most homes.

Measure Y, an advisory measure to spend the additional funds from Measure W on police and fire services, was being rejected 52 percent to 48 percent.

In the Yolo County public guardian race, incumbent Cass Sylvia was defeating challenger Elizabeth Barber, 74 percent to 26 percent, with 70 of 143 precincts reporting.

Call The Bee's Hudson Sangree, (916) 321-1191.