Derek Wilson
Marinscope
The old year is coming to a close, and the new year brings the anticipation of great change inspired by new leaders at the local and national levels.
The November 2020 General Election proved to be one of the most memorable elections in history — and in some cases, one of the closest elections.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, new legislation that altered the election process and the possibility of Public Safety Power Shutdown events during voting, the Elections Department worked long hours to plan and administer one of the most challenging elections anyone can recall.
“It was an election like no other,” said Registrar of Voters Lynda Roberts. “This one will definitely live in our collective memory for a very long time.”
Personnel from other County departments were called upon and gave support when Roberts asked for assistance – whether it was providing staffing and technical help, assisting with ballot drop box pick-ups, making the workplace COVID-19 safe for employees, or finding more working space, departments were there when needed.
Voter turnout was just over 90 percent, second highest in documented Marin County history only to the 2008 General Election that had nearly a 91 percent turnout.
In part because of COVID-19 concerns, but also because of a push to inform voters and encourage them to vote early, Marin County saw 92 percent (145,763 people) of its votes come through the mail.
The youth vote had a significant impact on the election, with voters ages 18-24 counted as the greatest block to register and vote within 14 days of the election.
“I definitely don’t think I was active before the first election when Donald Trump was elected in 2016. Now, I’m preregistered to vote and ahead of the game,” said 16-year-old Sofia Story, a Novato High School student. “Definitely I followed this election in particular and now I know better how this country is run and the flaws in it. This past year, the way we’ve handled the pandemic and the response to the Black Lives Matter movement are telling of the leadership in this country and how prepared our leaders are. This election has been very divisive. It seems like 2020 as a whole has been divisive.”
Other facts from the election:
- 12,340 people (8 percent) voted at polling places.
- 633 people (0.4 percent) cast provisional ballots.
- Number of people who registered to vote and voted within 14 days of the election: 1,098.
- Number of VBM ballots received by Election Day from post offices, drop boxes or polling places: 144,142.
- Number of VBM ballots postmarked by Election Day and received after the election: 1,621.
- Number of VBM ballots collected from drop boxes: 77,423.
- Most popular drop box: The drive-through box at the Civic Center’s north archway, with 18,354 ballots.
- Precinct with the highest turnout by percentage (excludes all-mail ballot precincts): Marin County Office of Education (#10902), 96.25 percent.
- Precinct with highest number of votes cast: Ignacio area of Novato (#50608), 4,823 ballots.
- Precinct with highest percentage of VBM votes (excludes all-mail ballot precincts): Terra Linda-Civic Center area (#11217), 89.87 percent.
Voters in California — and in Marin County especially — turned out solidly for the Democratic Party presidential ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Biden and Harris faced a tense election night, however, watching the numbers come in from around the country. It took nearly a month and a series of recounts in several key states before Biden was officially named president-elect. Not everyone has accepted Biden’s victory yet as accusations of voter fraud and demands for more recounts continue.
In Marin County, there were several changes to the political landscape.
• San Rafael voters elected the city’s first female mayor, Kate Colin, and two new council members. The election of Mayor Colin created a vacancy that is now open for appointment by the Council. Interested community members must reside in city limits, be 18 or older, and be registered voters in the city. Also, if the person appointed to the seat were to decide to seek to retain it in 2022, they would need to reside in District 2. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Jan. 12, 2021.
“Any time we can break a barrier is amazing,” Colin said. “It’s meaningful for young women in our community. I’m getting postcards from young girls writing how excited they are. After the election I got phone calls from people with stories of their daughters asking if ‘that woman’ won. And they told their daughters, ‘Yes, she won.’ They were happy.”
For the first time in history, the City Council and Mayor will be an entirely female leadership. Two newly-elected Councilmembers, Maika Llorens Gulati (District 1/South) and Rachel Kertz (District 4/North), also took office.
Colin, who was first elected to the City Council in 2013, succeeds longtime Mayor Gary Phillips, who served in that role since 2011. He served three terms on the City Council from 1995-2007.
• Sausalito saw one of the closest City Council races in memory, as newcomer Ian Sobieski narrowly edged out incumbent Joan Cox. Janelle Kellman and Melissa Blaustein also won council seats.
• The Fairfax Town Council bid a fond farewell to John Reed, and welcomed newly-elected Councilmember Chance Cutrano. Incumbents Barbara Coler and Bruce Ackerman were elected to a third and second term, respectively. All three Councilmembers took the Oath of Office and began their new terms.
The Council thanked Mayor Goddard for her year of leadership, and then selected Vice Mayor Bruce Ackerman to serve as Mayor for the next 12 months, and Councilmember Stephanie Hellman to serve as Vice Mayor.
• In San Anselmo, incumbents Brian Colbert and Alexis Fineman led the race for re-election. Meanwhile, challenger Eileen Burke usurped incumbent John Wright for the third spot. Another popular name, Ann Politzer, finished close behind Wright.
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