Politics

Neil Kitchens—a Prunedale resident who ran unsuccessfully against Robert Rivas in the 2018 race for state assembly—pleaded guilty to felony election fraud on election day 2020, according to authorities.

Nearly six days after Election Day, longtime Morgan Hill City Councilmember Larry Carr made a statement accepting the results that show a widening gap separating him from challenger Gino Borgioli, who holds a lead in the race for City Council District A.

An independent investigation found no evidence to support allegations that Morgan Hill Mayor Mark Turner physically assaulted Mayor Pro Tem Yvonne Martínez Beltrán during a February council meeting, according to findings presented at a special city council meeting July 22. The investigation concluded that all...

Incumbent Morgan Hill Unified School District Trustee Mary Patterson is trailing in the early Nov. 5 election results for her seat representing Trustee Area 6 on the board of education.  As of 10pm, challenger Rebecca Munson leads the two-person race for TA6, with about 57%...

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren on Monday presented five checks totaling 2.45 million for community projects for public safety and infrastructure projects in Morgan Hill and Gilroy. The Community Project Funding was requested by Lofgren and was included in Fiscal Year 2024 government funding legislation, signed into...

Many questions about district electionsDear Morgan Hill City Council,At the City Council meeting on June 7, you decided on your own to change to District elections for Council members.You had a very clear example that our residents will step forward on short notice and at a challenging time of the year to prepare applications and attend interview sessions. Over 20 well-qualified residents expressed their interest in filling the vacancy left by Gordon Siebert at the end of last year.Yet you claimed that the short time period and challenging time of the year prevented you from forming a Citizen Advisory Committee. So your direction to staff is to support workshops (which currently have no definition). Historically, most public comment at your meetings and workshops are one-way input to you, not actual discussion and debate.If a district has no candidates, does the council do an appointment? If so, would that be the same process that was used to replace Mr. Siebert?When you have formed districts, under what conditions could we still be sued for bias?How will district boundaries evolve over time? Does this become an issue with the city’s Residential Development Control System?What is the definition of equitable representation?Who represents those who are financially insecure?Who represents those who live in apartments or mobile home parks?Given the very different levels of resident involvement in our last election campaign and the following appointment process, we should have had a city-wide  discussion on how to get more residents involved in selecting who decides how our city operates. Instead, we get a mandatefrom council to go to district elections for council members.More than once, Council member Rich Constantine stated that the city had done nothing wrong. Yet you chose to be stampeded by the lawyer trolls. And it was a choice for you to make, even though you claimed that the outcome was forced on you by the cost/benefit analysis.Thank you for your consideration,Doug MuirheadMorgan Hill Thanks for promoting WorkAbilityThe Morgan Hill Unified School District WorkAbility/TPP office would like to take a moment and thank those business who have signed on to open their doors to our students to assist them in learning and practicing new job skills. Please patronise these merchants and thank them for giving back to our community.If your business is interested in investing in the youth of Morgan Hill in this way, please give us a call at (408) 201-6300 ex. 42217. The student’s salary and workers compensation insurance are paid by the district, so it is a win-win!The following businesses have signed on so far: Ace Hardware/Johnson Nursery, Advance Haircuts, Bargain Hunters Outlet, Community Garage and Towing/Ponzinis, Goodwill of Silicon Valley, Granada Theatre / Willow Heights Mansion, GVA Cafe, Made in Japan/Europe/USA, Massive Sounds with DJ Guy, Maurizio's, Morgan Hill Foods, Prova California Table, Rosy’s at the Beach, St. Vincent de Paul’s Thrift Shop, TJ Maxx, Top Knot Salon and YMCA/CRC.WorkAbility I and the Transition Partnership Program of Morgan Hill Unified is a program for high school students in special education. For five weeks beginning June 19, a group of 14- to 21-year-olds will be hitting Morgan Hill for some Community Based Instruction (CBI).The purpose of CBI is to promote each student’s community knowledge through instruction, participation and real world experience.CBI combines functional academics, social skills and job skills. Students practice essential life skills like how to purchase items, order lunch and make sure they have received the correct change. They learn how to dress for work, fill out time cards complete with proper signature, and how to be independent and confident in their community.We hope to meet you while we are out and about this summer!Catherine CanoMHUSD Job Developer

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s draft 10-year outlook for Measure B has received sharp criticism from South County officials, who say the agency is going against the voters by allocating most of the funds away from street repair.

Morgan Hill Mayor Rich Constantine this week formally declared his candidacy for the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors District 1 seat. Constantine, a retired firefighter who has served on the Morgan Hill City Council since 2010, highlighted his experience and supporters in a press...

Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen announced Aug. 3 that he is sponsoring an “unprecedented” statewide ballot initiative that seeks to “transcend the bitter politics of gun control and save the lives of crime victims, the suicidal and children.” If approved by voters, the...

Longtime Democratic incumbent U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren holds a commanding lead in the Nov. 5 election for the 18th congressional seat.  According to the California Secretary of State’s office, Lofgren has received more than 82,400 votes, or 63% of the ballots counted, in the Nov....