A busy field of hopefuls for the mayor’s seat and two city council spots makes up the official list of candidates for City of Morgan Hill offices up for election Nov. 8.
Three candidates, including incumbent Steve Tate, will vie for the mayor’s seat. A total of five candidates—including incumbents Larry Carr and Marilyn Librers—are running for the two available council seats.
Whoever wins the most votes out of the three candidates in the mayor’s race will win the office (no majority necessary), and the top two vote recipients in the council race will be seated at the two available seats.
Based on individual candidate statements submitted with their qualifying paperwork to election officials, growth of the city’s population is the top concern among challengers to the three incumbents. The incumbents are touting their experience in office as their top qualifications.
Running for mayor are:
• Tate, a retired IBM employee, who is seeking his sixth consecutive term;
• Kirk Bertolet, an electrician and U.S. Air Force veteran;
• Joseph Carrillo, a production company owner.
Running for the two council seats are:
• Carr, Vice President of Joint Venture Silicon Valley, who is seeking his fifth consecutive term on the council;
• Librers, Executive Director of the nonprofit Pauchon Foundation, who is seeking her third council term;
• Mario Banuelos, a retired geographic system information analyst for the City of San Jose and member of the city’s General Plan Advisory Committee;
• Armando Benavides, a local attorney known as an advocacy organizer among the Hispanic community;
• Rene Spring, a program management director and Morgan Hill planning commissioner.
City Clerk Irma Torrez was the only candidate to qualify for her office, which is also up for election on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Nobody has pulled papers or submitted their nomination paperwork for the office of City Treasurer. Incumbent Mike Roorda declined to run for re-election after serving in the office since 1997. The qualifying deadline for candidacy to the city treasurer’s office is 5 p.m. Aug. 17.
All candidates except Carrillo submitted official candidate statements pitching their vision for Morgan Hill and their experience that will help them address the issues they identify as important to residents. The statements—which are filed at the city clerk’s office and available to the public—can be read in full on the Times website by clicking on the pdf links at the bottom of this story. Below are select quotes from each statement.
Tate: “We need to complete several major projects that are underway: implementing the updated General Plan, preserving agriculture, expanding recreational opportunities and increasing downtown vitality. Our growth needs better control to avoid spurts and to recognize diminishing land availability. We must implement our infrastructure maintenance and flood control plans.”
Bertolet: “SLOW THE GROWTH! Preserve our open space and agricultural land. Build internal infrastructure such as water supply, roads and city services before more housing…We desperately need an animal control officer to help with stray/lost animals. Improve public safety to include enhanced pedestrian safety measures for downtown.”
Carr: “I am running for re-election with a clear and positive plan for Morgan Hill: continue our sustainable budget strategy, maintain growth control, improve public safety, protect our natural open space and agricultural resources, continue making downtown a vibrant welcoming and pedestrian friendly centerpiece to our community, and continue to invest in the youth of Morgan Hill.”
Librers: “Significant issues we are facing are controlled slow growth in all areas of Morgan Hill, adequate fire and police safety along with maintaining our infrastructure. Traffic concerns need to be addressed with the completion of a westside extension so downtown is walkable and bike friendly. I am a supporter of small business and downtown.”
Banuelos: “I’m excited about the future of Morgan Hill and understand the challenges and opportunities we face. As vice chair of the General Plan Advisory Committee 2035, I have listened to residents and share their vision on how to maintain and improve the family-friendly character and high quality of life in our city.”
Benavides: “I will advocate that we slow the growth to assess its impact on our infrastructure, public safety, our water and sewer systems, our roads and traffic congestion on highways and streets. I will only approve growth that the infrastructure can sustain.”
Spring: “I firmly stand for slower, more responsible residential growth; one that promotes a fiscally sustainable community and does not overstretch our public services or lose valuable natural resources.”
