The nomination period for the Nov. 3 general election opened July 13, giving candidates until 5pm Aug. 7 to file for a slate of local offices, including Morgan Hill’s mayor, two City Council seats and four seats on the Morgan Hill Unified School District Board of Education.
The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters’ Office announced the filing window this week. The deadline can be extended to Aug. 12 for any race in which an eligible incumbent does not file.
Mayor Mark Turner, whose seat is up for reelection, has already begun campaigning under the slogan “It Matters Who Leads!”
Turner was first elected in 2022 then reelected in 2024. Also in 2024, Morgan Hill voters passed Measure A, which established 12-year consecutive term limits for the mayor, city council, and city treasurer, and Measure B, which extended the mayor’s term from two to four years.
“Serving as Mayor of Morgan Hill has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Turner wrote in his campaign announcement letter on his website. “As we look ahead, I’m excited to continue this journey with you. Let’s keep moving Morgan Hill forward… together.”
City Council District B, held by Yvonne Martinez Beltran, and District D, held by Marilyn Librers, are also on the ballot. Beltran unsuccessfully challenged Turner for the mayor’s seat in 2024, but has not yet confirmed whether she plans to run again.
On the school board, four MHUSD trustee areas are up for election. Board President John Horner, representing Area 2, and Vice President Sarah Northrup Gadus, representing Area 3, have said they plan to file for reelection.
Area 1 Trustee Nancy Altman and Area 4 Trustee Pamela Gardiner have not yet confirmed whether they will seek new terms.
Raeena Lari, Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee for Area 7 which includes Morgan Hill, Gilroy and most of south Santa Clara Valley, also wants to continue her work on the board and confirmed she plans to file for reelection soon.
The Nov. 3 election will also decide several seats on the Valley Water board of directors, with District 1 Director John Varella indicating he plans to file for reelection for the organization’s largest district. District 1 on the Valley Water board includes all of South County.
Regionally and statewide, the general election will also determine California’s next governor, lieutenant governor and other offices, as well as U.S. representatives.
Candidates have until 5pm Aug. 7 to file. More information is available through the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters at vote.santaclaracounty.gov.
