By Ashir Rao

Public Relations

On Nov. 8, 2022, Los Gatans traveled to the polls, voting in both local and statewide elections. Locally, citizens voted on measures including the school board, town council, and Measure J.

Measure J, a proposal to raise the flat business tax in Los Gatos by 30 percent on businesses including retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers, passed with 53.3 percent of voters supporting the proposal. The town plans to adjust the tax annually for inflation, and allocate the revenue to several areas such as the police department and infrastructure maintenance. 

In the election for Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District Governing Board, Alex Shultz, Steve Chen, and Misty Davies were the top three vote getters with 25.8 percent, 25.1 percent, and 19.8 percent of the vote respectively. Both Shultz and Chen formerly served as tenured LGHS teachers. A prolific volunteer in Saratoga’s schools, Davies earned her PhD from Stanford University, later winning the 2018 Saratoga Union School District Volunteer of the Year Award. Incumbent member David Guidry lost his seat, coming in fourth place with 14.8 percent of the vote. 

In the Los Gatos City Council elections, new challenger Rob Moore, as well as incumbents Mary Badame and Rob Rennie, won with 23 percent, 21.5 percent, and 19.4 percent of the vote respectively.  A community organizer and non-profit manager focused on “building tiny homes, promoting environmental conservation, and managing government relations,” Moore ran a high-profile campaign. Badame, former Planning Commissioner for the Town of Los Gatos, works as a long-time small business owner. Both Badame and Rennie, were reelected on a platform opposing overdevelopment. 

At the county level, citizens elected Robert Jonsen Santa Clara County sheriff with 50.8 percent of the vote, defeating favorite to win Kevin Jensen. Both ran on platforms of transparency and anti-corruption. Sylvia Arenas beat out Johnny Khamis, winning the Santa Clara County district supervisor seat with 54.4 percent of the vote. 

At the national level, long-time incumbent Democrat Anna Eshoo beat Rishi Kumar in the California District 16 House of Representatives race. Kumar ran a high-profile campaign, but  lost to Eshoo, falling short by nearly 40,000 votes.