Republicans (mostly) dominate SCV elections

(By Karen Jonas) While Democrats won Tuesday’s presidential election nationwide with the re-election of President Barack Obama, the Santa Clarita Valley contests were almost completely dominated by Republicans, with only one Democrat winning a local contest. Returning Republican Congressman Howard “Buck”  McKeon won back his seat handily in the 25^th Congressional District, despite strong opposition from Democrat Dr. Lee Rogers of Simi Valley. With all precincts partially reporting Wednesday morning, McKeon garnered 55.2 percent of the vote compared to Roger’s 44.8 percent.

In the two local state Assembly races, Republican and former McKeon aide Scott Thomas Wilk received 56.9 percent of the vote in the 38^th district, while Democrat Edward Headington had 43.1 percent of the vote. Republican Ron Smith gathered 51 percent of the vote in the 36^th district, while Democrat Steve Fox received 49 percent of the votes.

In the 21^st California Senate district, Republican Steve Knight won with 58.5 percent of the vote, while Democrat Star Moffatt received 41.5 percent of the vote.

In the only local contest not won by a Republican, Democrat Fran Pavley won the 27^th California Senate seat with 52.6 percent of the vote, compared to Republican Todd Zink’s 47.4 percent.

Measure QS, a Castaic Union School District bond measure, passed with 64.48 percent of the vote. It needed at least 55 percent of voters to agree in order to pass.

Deputy District Attorney Jackie Lacey beat out fellow Deputy District Attorney Alan Jackson to win the Los Angeles County District Attorney spot with 54.99 percent of the vote, compared to Jackson’s 45.01 percent.

Los Angeles County voters overwhelmingly shot down Measure A, which would have changed the Los Angeles County Assessor position to an appointed one instead of an elected one. A total of 77.75 percent voted against the measure and 22.25 percent voted for the measure.

Measure B, which will require actors in adult films to wear condoms in Los Angeles County, also passed, with 55.85 percent of voters approving and 44.15 percent against.

A Metropolitan Transit Authority sales tax continuance failed to pass even though 64.72 percent of voters agreed with the continuance. Measure J needed at least 66.67 percent of the vote to pass.

By 8 a.m. Wednesday, every precinct throughout the state had reported in on the multitude of statewide propositions. Proposition 30, Gov. Jerry Brown’s temporary tax increases to fund education passed, with 53.9 percent of voters agreeing with a quarter-cent sales tax increase and income tax increase for families earning more than $250,000 annually. A rival tax measure, Prop 38, failed overwhelmingly, with only 27.7 percent of voters approving of the bid to incrementally raise income taxes across the board.

An increase in penalties for people convicted of human trafficking passed overwhelmingly with 81.1 percent of voters approving the proposition, while a bid to soften the state’s three-strikes law also passed with 68.6 percent of the vote.

A business tax for energy funding passed with 60.1 percent of the vote, while state senate redistricting maps will remain in effect with the approval of 71.4 percent of the vote.

Proposition 32, which would have prohibited unions from using payroll deductions for political purposes, failed, with 56.1 percent of voters voting no. A bid to establish a two-year state budget also failed, with 60.8 percent of voters disapproving.

Bids to label genetically engineered food, abolish the death penalty, and base auto insurance rates on driver history also failed.

Although all precincts in the county and state have now reported in, a number of absentee votes and provisional votes placed Tuesday still have to be counted. The County of Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder has until December 7 to send in official ballot results, according to the Secretary of State.