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Mayor Mark Turner is seeking his third term as mayor in Morgan Hill. Photo courtesy of Mark Turner.<\/p>\nThe next election results update is expected Thursday, Nov. 5 by 5 p.m.<\/p>\n
Mark Turner has won another four years as mayor in Morgan Hill, while incumbents in City Council Districts B and D, Yvonne Martinez Beltran and Marilyn Librers, lack the support needed to retain their seats.<\/p>\n
Seven candidates \u2014 three for the mayoral seat and two each in Districts B and D \u2014 are vying for seats in the three posts up for grabs. The mayoral seat is an at-large seat with the term shifting from two to four years for the first time. District B encompasses the northeast area of the city. District D covers the eastern part of the city.<\/p>\n
Mayor<\/p>\n
In the mayoral race, incumbent Mark Turner is seeking his third term, but the first as the seat shifts to a four-year term. Turner, a full-time public official, is running against Deborah Africa, a retired nurse, and Kristopher Clayton, a professional carpenter.<\/p>\n
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Turner is ahead in the mayoral race with 50.1% of the vote, or 4,758 votes. In second place is Africa with 37.3% of the vote or 3,539 votes. Clayton has 11.2% of the vote or 1,064 votes. Total county voter turnout is 29.6%.<\/p>\n
Approximately 337,600 ballots remain unprocessed countywide, according to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m honored to continue serving as the mayor of Morgan Hill for four more years,\u201d Turner told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cI see the outcome of the election as a vote of confidence that we are moving in the right direction as a city. \u2026 We have good things ahead of us and I\u2019m looking forward to working with the new council bringing those things to fruition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mayor Mark Turner is seeking his third term as mayor in Morgan Hill. Photo courtesy of Mark Turner.<\/p>\n
Turner and his wife have lived in Morgan Hill for 33 years, raising three children who have gone through the public school system. Before his election to mayor in 2022, Turner was CEO of the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce. He left the chamber to focus on Morgan Hill residents and businesses.<\/p>\n
Turner said the budget is a top priority for him \u2014 generating additional revenue being a must. He said he\u2019s championing sports and recreation, economic development and tourism opportunities. With companies like Archer Aviation and Heron Power coming to the city, Turner said that will bring as many as 900 new jobs to Morgan Hill, but he said that can\u2019t be the sole focus.<\/p>\n
Africa, a Morgan Hill resident for more than four decades, said she is running for mayor because the city needs leadership that puts residents first, making decisions based on the community\u2019s long-term health rather than short-term political convenience.<\/p>\n
She said her campaign is focused on three priorities: safe and healthy neighborhoods, transparent and accountable government and responsible growth with real affordability. She points to her 30 years of experience in nursing, public administration, education and advocacy, with experience at Stanford Hospital, as well as hospitals in San Jose, Gilroy, Los Gatos and Humboldt County.<\/p>\n
\u201cI accept the result. But I\u2019m still concerned about (Turner\u2019s) voting record, his handling of city projects and how he treats fellow councilmembers and residents who disagree with him,\u201d Africa told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cI\u2019ll keep following council decisions, asking questions and speaking up when I think the city is headed in the wrong direction. When he makes a decision that serves Morgan Hill well, I\u2019ll say that, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clayton grew up in Morgan Hill, graduated from Live Oak High School and is raising his family here. His policy focus includes fiscal responsibility, responsible growth, public safety, roads and infrastructure, supporting working families and local businesses and protecting the city\u2019s character.<\/p>\n
District B<\/p>\n
In District B, incumbent Yvonne Martinez Beltran is wrapping up her second, four-year term, dating back to 2018. She is challenged by Steven Hayes, a career firefighter and paramedic.<\/p>\n
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Hayes is ahead in the District B race with 63.7% of the vote, or 1,504 votes. In second place is Martinez Beltran with 36% of the vote or 851 votes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very encouraged to be ahead in the early results,\u201d Hayes told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cWe worked hard over the past several months, knocking on thousands of doors, talking with residents, listening to their concerns and making the case for safer neighborhoods, strong parks and youth programs, fiscal responsibility and protecting what makes Morgan Hill such a great place to live.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Steven Hayes is challenging the incumbent for the Morgan Hill City Council District B seat. Photo courtesy of Steven Hayes.<\/p>\n
Hayes is a fire captain and paramedic in Gilroy who has lived in Morgan Hill for 22 years, the past 14 years in District B. Hayes\u2019 priorities are on public safety, fiscal responsibility, responsible growth, strong parks and public spaces and providing opportunities for Morgan Hill\u2019s youth and working families. Additionally, Hayes said he supports small businesses, investing in infrastructure and protecting the character of the city.<\/p>\n
He said the top concern the city is facing is its financial stability, but also pointed to the need to make thoughtful decisions on infrastructure and public safety without feeling rushed.<\/p>\n
Martinez Beltran is a Morgan Hill lifer, having spent her time living in District B. She holds a master\u2019s degree in urban planning from New York University with a focus in housing and economic development. She said her experience bodes well for what she can do for the city she\u2019s represented for the past eight years, specifically focused on the city\u2019s growth, housing, infrastructure and economic development.<\/p>\n
Martinez Beltran did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n
District D<\/p>\n
In District D, incumbent Mayor Pro Tem Marilyn Librers is completing 12 years serving Morgan Hill, from 2008 to 2016 and again in 2022 to the present. The city term limits cap officials to 12 consecutive years, making Librers eligible. Librers is challenged by Dolores Alvarado, division director at the Santa Clara County Public Health Department and CEO of Community Health Partnership.<\/p>\n
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Alvarado is ahead in early results with 58.4% of the vote, or 1,488 votes. In second place is Librers with 41.4% of the vote or 1,056 votes.<\/p>\n
Alvarado was not immediately available for comment.<\/p>\n
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Dolores Alvarado is running for the Morgan Hill City Council seat in District D. Photo courtesy of Dolores Alvarado.<\/p>\n
For the past 16 years, Alvarado has been CEO of Community Health Partnership, a consortium of federally qualified health centers that provides healthcare to all, regardless of status, throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. A resident of Morgan Hill\u2019s District D for more than three decades, Alvarado has a half-century of experience working with county government and nonprofits on policy and contracts. She said her ability to work across the political aisle for the benefit of city residents is an asset.<\/p>\n
Alvarado supports a range of housing types, but said new projects need to match the city\u2019s street capacity, school routes and existing character, with realistic parking and safety standards. She added that residents should also know what\u2019s planned near them and have a chance to weigh in well in advance.<\/p>\n
She said Morgan Hill\u2019s budget must protect parks, recreation, diverse programming and public safety so the city\u2019s financial pressures don\u2019t hollow out daily quality of life. Her platform is focused on transparency for herself and other public officials.<\/p>\n
Mayor Pro Tem Librers is a retired nonprofit executive who has spent nearly 50 years in Morgan Hill, all in District D. Librers also has years of experience on city and county commissions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish the new councilwoman all the best,\u201d Librers told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight.<\/p>\n
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