Election results: Moraga passes school bond, incumbents win their races
By Sora O'Doherty
Moraga citizens voted in large numbers for a new school bond in the Statewide election held March 5. The bond, intended to address Moraga's aging school facilities, will raise approximately $3 million annually and will cost homeowners around $28 to $30 per $100,000 of assessed values. The bond authorizes the Moraga School District to sell $52 million in bonds, with both the principal and interest on the bonds to be repaid from the ad valorem tax on property. The measure, which required a 55% majority to pass, seems to have achieved a greater than 66% majority, according to preliminary results of the election released by Contra Costa County Elections, with 100% of precincts reporting.
Moraga Superintendent of Schools Julie Parks said, "We are so grateful for the Moraga community and the ongoing commitment to our schools. We look forward to putting this investment to good use to improve facilities for Moraga students now and in the future." In other Moraga school news, Parks also announced a tentative agreement with teachers. "This is an achievement to be proud of and aligns with our collective priority to recruit and retain excellent teachers," Parks said. The 7.5% salary increase across the salary schedule will mean that Moraga School District teachers will have realized a cumulative 19% raise over the last three years.
Local Democratic Congressman Mark DeSaulnier was the highest vote-taker in the county, with approximately 65% of the vote. He will face Republican challenger Katherine Piccinini, who took about 19% of the votes, in the general election in November. Democratic Assembly member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan similarly took over 66% of the votes, and will run against Republican Joseph Rubay, who took about 33% of votes. County Supervisor Candace Andersen ran unopposed.
State Proposition 1, which was favored in Contra Costa County by over 56% of voters, is still undetermined as votes statewide continue to be counted. Some vote-by-mail ballots still await counting, including those postmarked by March 5 but which arrive up to 5 days later. County election officials must verify results 30 days after the election. The Secretary of State's office must certify the election eight days later. The school bond and the state proposition will be final after the March vote. Candidates will move forward to the November general election.
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