SANTOS LEADS BUT FALLS SHORT OF MAJORITY
By Steven Tavares
An internal poll for the mayor’s race in San Leandro shows little movement has been made by Tony Santos’ opponents. But, nevertheless there is concern during an election featuring the first-time use of Ranked Choice Voting in San Leandro.
The poll described to The Citizen shows Santos short of accomplishing a majority. Some sort of permutation of second place votes will be needed to push him over 50 percent, but where will they come from is the question. The survey shows Councilwoman Joyce Starosciak with around 20 percent and Stephen Cassidy at 15 percent.
Those numbers are not much different than figures predicted by some officials earlier in the year. Since the poll, two additional candidates–Sara Mestas and John Palau–have entered the race. Despite data showing RCV rarely produces a winner different from an election using plurality voting, there is still a sense of apprehension on how to conduct a campaign under the format which guarantees a winner in one election rather than the need for a more expensive primary and runoff elections.
If Santos’ numbers stand pat, he will need to pick up the remaining 3-5 percent from voters who ranked him second to their preferred candidate. Most likely they would come from Mestas and Palau, but then there is concern whether a combination of both candidate’s first place votes would even be enough on their own.
Just wondering, what accomplishments are in the re-election platform of Tony Santos? He's been detrimental to this City for 30 years. I just can't see anything positive about his political time spent.
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San Leandro had good schools when Starociak was on the School Board? bahahahhahahahahahaha The schools here have sucked for 20 years, who are you kidding?
bahahahhahahahahahah
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Santos is pompous, dismissive and is quick to turn his back on any resident that opposes his positions. Exactly what kind of voter supports him? San Leandro can no longer afford to vote stupid!!!
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What do we have in San Leandro that sells the town? Castro Valley has their Schools. San Leandro had it when Starociak was on the school board. Cassidy is on the school board now and look at the schools! I know who to vote for.
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Isn't Cassidy the moron that goes around marching in the queer parade in San Francisco??
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Cassidy? Santos? Starociak? Mestas? Palau? Good lord almighty. But, then San Leandro is infamous for electing those who are not very bright, but manage to put a lot of signs on various lawns.
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If the local politicians want to go out and get the youth vote, all they need to do is to take a position on Proposition 19.
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The problem here is some people don't even know San Leandro has a mayor or they can't even name who he is. How are Starosciak, Cassidy and whoever else going to get people to the polling booth on election day?
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This whole runoff, ranked choice bull was concocted by Maltester and his hacks. It's a total farce. I hope Palau and Mestas pull it off.
Manuel
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