Election results may affect hills area
By Matthew Artz |
PUBLISHED: November 9, 2006 at 3:41 a.m. | UPDATED: August 17, 2016 at 6:57 a.m.
UNION CITY — As the dust settled on the City Council race Wednesday, top vote-getter Carol Dutra-Vernaci moved closer to a third run for mayor, while fellow victor Manny Fernandez proposed revisiting development in the hills.
Meanwhile, the odd man out, Ben Elias, blamed local Democratic organizations for his defeat and said he is strongly considering leaving the party.
Voters returned the three incumbents to the council. With all precincts reporting, Dutra-Vernaci won with 30.6 percent of the vote, followed by Richard Valle with 24.7 percent and Manny Fernandez with 24.3 percent. Elias, a former councilman, finished fourth with 20.1 percent, 936 votes behind Fernandez.
Dutra-Vernaci said her strong showing made her "more likely" to challenge Mayor Mark Green in 2008.
"It gives me knowledge that people out in the community think I'm doing a good job," she said.
Under a recent term limits law, the three incumbents will be barred from seeking re-election in four years.
Fernandez said he will propose a meeting for early next year to discuss building houses in the hills, nearly all of which are off limits to development under a voter-approved hillside preservation ordinance. "This is my last chance," he said. "I have to approach it gingerly. People are very passionate about this, and I don't want to divide the city."
Valle said his legacy will come from promoting youth programs and improving public safety.
"In the end, we will be judged on how safe people feel when they come home after work," he said.
While the incumbents interpreted the results as vindication of their stewardship of the city, Elias maintained that many issues remain to be tackled.
On Wednesday, he released a 21-point proposal for the city. The plan includes reviewing employee pension plans, opening City Hall on Fridays and auditing the Police Department's call-for-service records.
Elias said he would push for the suggestions in writing and at council meetings.
As for the election, Elias said he is strongly considering registering as an independent and encouraging others to do the same. He is upset that the county Democratic Party and the Ohlone Area United Democratic Campaign sent mailers endorsing his opponents in the technically nonpartisan election.
"I think it made a lot of difference," he said. "It's embittering, and I'm not going to forget it."
Staff writer Matthew Artz covers Union City for The Argus. He can be reached at (510) 353-7003 or martz@angnewspapers.com.
Matthew Artz
Matthew Artz formerly covered politics for the Bay Area News Group.