(OBSERVER photo by Ray Johnson)
SACRAMENTO – A majority of Sacramento voters made it known during the General Election on Tuesday that City Hall works just fine.
With all precincts reporting, Measure L, the initiative known as the “Sacramento Checks and Balance Act of 2014,” was voted down with 31,885 (57.22 percent) votes against 23,835 (42.78 percent) votes.
Now that the people have spoken, the discussion to give the mayor of Sacramento expanded powers has ended. Sacramento will continue to operate as a council-manager government where the mayor has one vote on the city council — and the city manager acts as the city’s CEO.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, who has been pushing for a Strong Mayor structure since he’s been in office since 2008, had not conceded, though praised the effort put forth by supporters of the measure.
“This is a discussion that needed to happen in our community for quite some time,” Johnson said. “I’m proud of the campaign we ran, we did it above ground, we took the high road, and we did it the Sacramento way.”
Measure L’s defeat was only one of many stories from a busy election night. Assembly candidates and Democrats Jim Cooper and Kevin McCarty will be the first African American representatives ever from the Sacramento region.
Cooper, an Elk Grove City Councilman and Sacramento Sheriff captain, outpaced challenger Darrell Fong 54 percent to 45 percent for the State Assembly District 9 seat with all 347 precincts reported.
Sacramento City Councilman McCarty led fellow City Councilman Steve Cohn with 58 percent of the votes for the State Assembly Assembly District 7 seat with all 346 precincts counted.
Cooper and McCarty could also be part of a contingent from Northern California that bring the Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) to its highest membership, ever. McCarty told The OBSERVER that he is looking forward to representing the political faction and District 9.
“I am proud of that,” McCarty said at a viewing party in the Tahoe Park neighborhood. “I’ll be the first person of African American descent representing this district. It’s a culturally diverse district, I’ll certainly bring the issues bring that are important to the African American community to the forefront and be an advocate at the State Capitol.”
In addition to all the activities that circled Measure L and local assembly races, Larry Carr, a former Board member of SMUD, had little problem claiming the seat to Sacramento City Council District 8.
With all 38 precincts counted, Carr led the way with 2,078 votes (51.22 percent). He will replace Bonnie Pannell, who stepped down last summer due to health issues.
“We think we ran a good campaign, a planned campaign, and executed flawlessly,” Carr said at this viewing party near Cosumnes River College. “My opponents were formidable. If they were on the ballot their boxes were easily checked like mine. So we had to get the word out and make sure people knew who we are and what our plans are. That’s what campaigning is all about,” Carr added.
In other General Election Local and State Results:
With all 735 precincts counted, State Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan leads Assemblyman Roger Dickinson with 53,411 votes (53.26 percent) to 46,896 (46.74 percent) for the State Senate District 6 seat.
Incumbent U.S. Congressman Ami Bera and challenger Doug Ose race for District 7 is still too close to call. Currently, Bera (Democrat) is trailing Ose 56,284 (51.37 percent) to 53,273 (48.63 percent).
By OBSERVER Staff Writer
Antonio R. Harvey