Leaders in both major political parties claim November will bring a Blue Wave or a Red Wave, either flipping the power balance in Washington or cementing the GOP’s stronghold. Monterey County voters will weigh in on one national election this Nov. 6, with Democratic Congressman Jimmy Panetta up for re-election after his first term, facing off against Carmel CPA Ron Kabat. (Kabat, who has no party preference, has run unsuccessfully twice before, against Panetta’s predecessor, Sam Farr.)
But mostly Monterey County voters will make choices in dozens of local positions for city councils, school boards, water boards and fire districts. In the lead-up to the Nov. 6 election, we'll publish stories in print and online about many of those races. Look for them here.
The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 6 election is Oct. 22, and you can do so at montereycountyelections.us.
Monterey Peninsula College Area 2 Trustee candidate Yuri Anderson ran a textbook campaign—as in she literally used a book, The Political Campa…
Public Water Now co-founder George Riley doesn’t usually eat breakfast, but on Nov. 6, he had a bowl of granola.
Tyller Williamson had some highs and lows in his first run for public office. He reflects on one week, in which he was on the verge of tears d…
In the backyard of Salinas City Council candidate Andrew Sandoval’s North Salinas home, about three dozen supporters gathered around patio hea…
It was a crowded field for Seaside elections: five candidates ran for two city council seas, while three fought for an open mayoral seat. Many…
About 30 people gathered just after 8pm inside Carmel City Hall to watch election results, where the mood was jovial as the group chatted. Whe…
There were a number of surprised reactions in Pacific Grove on Tuesday night as the initial results began to roll in—primarily from the candid…
When volunteers showed up early, around 7am on Election Day, Nov. 6, at the Merced campaign office of Anna Caballero for State Senate, they ar…
BIG DEAL…Squid loves surprises. A fruit bouquet from Squid’s nieces and nephews on Squid’s birthday, or a “thinking of you” card from Squid’s …
The city’s first of cannabusiness to open, Loudpack Farms, quickly became its largest employer, with 278 jobs. It’s across the street from Cit…
OH RILEY FACTOR… Squid was considering making a cozybonfire out of all of the campaign mailers Squid’s received in the run-up to Election Day.…
The 2018 election is not the first time Salinas Union High School District’s trustee for Area 5, EvaMarie Martinez, has faced off against a yo…
An investigation launched in September into whether or not members of Seaside City Council made inappropriate comments toward councilmember an…
In Nancy Kotowski’s 12-year tenure as Monterey County Office of Education’s superintendent of schools, achievement gaps closed and participati…
REAL PROPERTY… Squid likes the simple things in life: People-watching, walking Squid’s English bulldog Rosco P. Coltrane on the beach, ironic humor.
A year ago, local government officials were cheering when Senate Bill 1, the 12-cent gas tax approved by the California Legislature and signed…
I usually don’t wince when opening my email. I usually don’t check caller ID on my cell phone so I can decide whether to answer it or let it g…
Last year was one of acrimony for Monterey Peninsula College, as faculty members marched in the streets and pleaded with the MPC Board of Trus…
At the top of a proposed contract that accounting firm Clifton Larson Allen LLP sent to the city of Seaside Oct. 2, it reads: “confidential.”
SMOKE SIGNAL… The world, it seems to Squid, is going crazy these days, and whether it’s a fire, flood or journalist getting murdered, it seems…
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While “tribalism” is the word of the day in hyper-partisan Washington, D.C., dozens of local candidates and ballot measures transcend party. T…
On March 14, nearly the entire student body of Monterey High School marched in the rain to protest for stricter gun control laws and to rememb…
SMELLS LIKE MONEY… Squid was planning to spend Oct. 10 basking in the glow of Squittleday, an actual event during the five-day International C…
A five-person board with four seats up for re-election means lots of new faces will be governing Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System come 2019.
Darryl Choates is on a roll these days. Maybe even literally…
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IN MID-SEPTEMBER, CALIFORNIA AMERICAN WATER, the privately owned water utility that serves the greater Monterey Peninsula, sent out a glossy m…
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MEMBERS OF THE PACIFIC GROVE CITY COUNCIL LOOKED WEARY at the end of the evening on Feb. 21, after listening to a host of angry people argue o…
Carmel Unified School District is a good school district by many measures. Per-pupil spending is over $20,000 thanks to high local property ta…
The number was staggering to the audience of more than 200 people on April 19 at the Farmworker Housing Forum sponsored by the city of Salinas…
HOWARD’S END… Squid spent the past weekend hiding in the lair, blanket pulled over Squid’s head to block out the horrible vibes reverberating …
Monterey mayoral race revives debate over sweetheart deals and lack of transparency on wharf leases.
Former Monterey planning commissioner Bill McCrone, who is running for mayor of Monterey against incumbent Clyde Roberson, has made some enemi…
With the Nov. 6 election just a month away, campaign signs are going up all over the place. Those signs aren't free.
History Lesson…After a rough week, Squid just wanted to kick back this weekend. Squid reached into the fridge for a beer, and felt a sinking s…
FACEYSPACE PAGES… In an effort to connect to humanity, Squid enjoys hearing alternative points of view. For Squid, that entails seeking out co…
False Advertising…Squid spent the weekend at the Monterey Jazz Festival, undulating to the music by the hundreds of ultra-talented and diverse…
It was an impassioned evening at Seaside City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 20 amid a recent swirl of allegations and revelations that have led the …
On Sept. 14, Seaside City Councilmember Kayla Jones walked into City Hall and handed over a money order in the amount of $490…
Low voter turnout causes many problems; worst is perpetuating the myth that your vote doesn’t count.
One of Monterey County’s most contentious debates is over water. There are endless debates about public ownership versus the status quo; every…
Carmel’s politics these days are about as tangled as piles of washed-up kelp on the town’s white sand beach after high tide.
Measure for Measure…Squid has never outgrown Squid’s appreciation of a full mailbox. Back when Squid was a Squidlet, Squid had a humpback whal…
LOOK ALIKE… Squid still can’t vote and isn’t gaining ground on a cephalopod suffrage movement. Instead, Squid is tuning into the county’s youn…
For four months leading up to Aug. 10, the last day for candidates to file paperwork to run in the Nov. 6 election, the Moss Landing Harbor Di…
Since 2015, Monterey-Salinas Transit operations have been running smoothly. Fares have remained stable and bus services have been added. “We’r…
Bruce Delgado doesn’t present as a guy who’s fighting for his political future…
PROMISES, PROMISES… Squid has got Squid’s tentacles full keeping up on elections during this back-to-school season, and there’s drama over at …
Both sides are framing this court ruling as a victory. While the gist of a November ballot measure will remain unchanged (one side's version o…
FISHING EXPEDITION… Squid constantly misplaces things. Car keys? Gone. Wallet? Into the vapor. A year’s worth of text messages and emails with…
Another public water initiative, another lawsuit.
As the Monterey Peninsula's most populous city, it's perhaps fitting that Seaside has one of the most crowded field of candidates in the region.
UPDATED: As of 5pm Aug. 10, the deadline to file papers to run for the Nov. 6 election, Kevin Saunders has not filed paperwork to be a candida…
Bob Nolan spent 30 years working for the city of Marina, ultimately retiring as a police commander earlier this year, and he already wants to …
Two months ago, Pacific Grove Mayor Bill Kampe cleared the way for a big leadership change in the coastal city, announcing he would not seek a…
OIL MONEY… As Squid gears up for another season of the reality TV show that is Monterey County elections, Squid first decided to recap the Jun…
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Congressman Jimmy Panetta stands up behind his desk and offers a firm handshake and a wide smile…
WRITE ON… Squid can’t stop wondering what President Donald Trump and Russian PresidentVladimir Putin discussed for their two-plus-hour meeting…
I’ve always voted by mail. I turned 18 in December of 2012, the month after Barack Obama was re-elected, and by September of 2013, I was in Sa…
Like many sheriff’s deputies, Scott Davis normally starts his day around noon based on his work schedule. On June 5, Election Day, he started …
Someone asked my opinion of the press conference held May 31 in Salinas during which women from local political and legal spheres took Montere…
At the election night party for County Supervisor John Phillips, which was held at his house in Prunedale, his supporters were in a cheerful m…
The first cheer went up when someone in the crowd figured out how to shut off closed captioning on the television above the bar. The text box …
Candidates on the campaign trail are generally trained to stick to their talking points. On Election Day, the Weekly asked some of the candida…
Like many sheriff’s deputies, Scott Davis normally starts his day around noon based on his work schedule. On June 5, Election Day, he started …
Dave Potter, a former Monterey County supervisor who lost in his bid for re-election in 2016, is getting back into politics.
Centerpiece
Once there was a cop who won a plum assignment. It had him on loan from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in San Jose…
During the lead up to the 2012 elections, Pacific Grove Mayor Bill Kampe—then a council member elected in 2008—told the Weekly he was ready to…
Vote Count…Squid has been having some weird dreams lately. Maybe it’s all those Squid boats out at night, lighting up the lair—and capturing S…
After County Supervisor Mary Adams ran her first campaign for office two years ago, she was surprised by how much money went into it, and deci…
After 28 years in elected office, County Supervisor Simon Salinas is retiring. He's held his current seat, representing District 3—which inclu…
After 28 years in elected office, Monterey County Supervisor Simon Salinas plans to retire next year when his term ends. His chief of staff, C…
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