Despite a big-spending campaign by property owners, Salinas residents vote to keep rent stabilization.

It was a festive night on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at the United Farm Workers in Salinas, where rock ‘n’ roll in Spanish, banda and Michael Jackson tunes played from the speakers. Attendees at a No on Measure H party toasted with tequila in honor of late Dolores Huerta, who died on Oct. 28. Before election results came in, they gathered outside to hit a star-shaped piñata that read “Yes on H.”

When the initial results came in at about 8:25pm from the Monterey County Elections Department, the room filled with cheers. Measure H, which would repeal four housing-related ordinances that offer stronger tenant protections than state law, is failing with just 41 percent, or 6,786 votes, compared to the 9,764 No on H votes to keep those protections, including rent stabilization. 

“People gave so much of themselves to ensure that Salinas’ renters, the working families that are the backbone of our community, would be protected,” organizer Rosa González says. 

“What we saw today was power to the people,” says Anthony Rocha, a former District 6 councilmember who championed the ordinances.

The No on H campaign group was outspent by a landlord-backed committee by a margin of more than 9-to1.

In some races for council, candidates who supported the repeal and opposed rent stabilization were faring well. Mayor Dennis Donohue is on track to secure his fifth non-consecutive term, leading with 63 percent in a four-way race. Peter Szalai has 20 percent, followed by Daniel Muñoz, with 13 percent of the vote and Hezekiah Gonzalez trails with 4 percent of the vote as of 10:15pm on Tuesday. (All three challengers endorsed No on H; Donohue voted to repeal the ordinances, but declined to take a position on the measure, saying it was up to voters to decide.)

In North Salinas’ District 5, incumbent Andrew Sandoval, a champion of rent stabilization, is losing is reelection bid, with 46 percent, or 1,122 votes compared to Irma Lopez, a Hartnell College trustee, who has 1,318 votes in early returns. 

Lopez says she is ready for the role and will take the position very seriously. 

“My first priority is paint striping, fixing the lights and to fix the potholes in my district and I will act quickly because those are safety hazards,” she says. 

She joined Donohue and District 3 incumbent Margaret D’Arrigo at an election night party at The Glasshouse downtown, where all three were leading, D’Arrigo with 60 percent of the vote in a three-person race, over third-time candidate Cary Swensen (with 32 percent) and first-time candidate Brent Bagley (8 percent).  

In a bright pink pants and suit, D'Arrigo stands out in the crowd of about 60 people. “I’m excited and filled with gratitude to take this role again,” she says. “Change is coming and now there will be new energy. Irma is good at what she does and having another female in the team is great.” 

In East Salinas’ District 2, longtime councilmember Tony Barrera holds a commanding lead with 62 percent of the vote over Jose Guerra. 

Barrera also campaigned for the No on H side, and volunteered for the signature-gathering campaign that got it on the ballot.

Another initiative in Salinas, Measure G, was heading for a landslide victory with 77 percent of the vote in early returns. The measure would extend a 1-cent sales tax voters passed in 2014 and remove its sunset date, meaning the city won’t have to cut $47 million from its budget in the future.