Walnut Creek School District needs one more candidate to run

Walnut Creek School District Superintendent Patty Wool emailed parents Tuesday, announcing the decision, by long-time board member Dan Walden, to not seek re-election. He was one of three candidates running for three seats on the school board. Now that he's bowing out of the race, the race needs at least one new candidate to run.

Wool wanted to remind anyone interested in running that they need to file nomination papers at the county elections division by August 11.

Here's Wool's email:

Dear Walnut Creek School District Community, Hopefully, everyone is enjoying a wonderful summer. The school district is gearing up for the 2010-11 school year and the reopening of schools on August 25. We did want to make sure that our entire community has heard that Walnut Creek School District board member, Dan Walden, will not be continuing as a board member after December when his term comes to an end. Dan has served with dignity the students of Walnut Creek for twenty-two years. His tremendous passion, expertise, and exuberance will be missed, and we thank Dan for his amazing work on behalf of the students of Walnut Creek. August 11 is the last date to file papers with the county elections office for the position of Governing Board member in Walnut Creek School District. If you would like information about the position, please contact any of our present board members. Have a wonderful rest of the summer. See you in the fall.

My best, Patricia Wool, Ed.D. Superintendent Walnut Creek School District pwool@wcsd.k12.ca.us

Measure C wins, Gus Kramer keeps his job, and David Livingston is elected our new sheriff

Mount Diablo Unified School District's Measure C bond passed with 61 percent of the vote, clearing the 55-percent hurdle it needed to win. Thirty-nine percent of voters said no.

Meanwhile, Gus Kramer will be keeping his job as Contra Costa County Assessor, winning 55 percent of the vote. Mark Peterson was is ahead in the District Attorney's race, but not by a majority. He will face a November runoff against his rival, Dan O'Malley.

David Livingston was elected Sheriff with 56 percent of the vote.

See more specifics on the Measure C race here on Walnut Creek Patch, and on these other Contra Costa County races here.

Associated Press calls Garamendi winner in California's 10th congressional race; so far, early results show Garamendi in the lead

UPDATE 9:20 p.m. CBS5 says the Associated Press is calling the 10th congressional race, to replace former U.S. Representative Ellen Tauscher, for her fellow Democrat, state Lt. Governor John Garamendi.

As of 8:30 p.m.: Garamendi had been leading his main opponent, David Harmer, in the race for U.S. representative in California's 10th congressional district.

Garamendi was leading Harmer, a Republican and San Ramon attorney, with 56 percent of the vote. That is, with 78 of 273 precincts reporting. Harmer has nearly 40 percent of the vote.

Contra Costa Times' Lisa Vorderbrueggen's Political Blotter column reports that vote-by-mail results posted in Contra Costa County show Garamendi leading with 57percent compared with 38 percent for Republican David Harmer.

Vote Tuesday!

Yeah, 2009 is an off-year for an election, and the ballot list isn't long, but try as much as you can to vote.

We've got some vitally important local races.

There's the election to decide our next local representative in the 10th U.S. Congressional District. The main contenders are Lt. Governor John Garamendi (Democrat) and San Ramon attorney David Harmer (Republican).

For those who live in Walnut Creek, you get to decide on the future of Broadway Plaza by voting "yes" or "no" on Measure I. A "yes" vote would allow Broadway Plaza to build a new department store--effectively, a Neiman Marcus--in downtown Walnut Creek.

Then there are the measures to extend parcel taxes for our local school districts: Measure G for the Acalanes Union High School District and Measure H for the Walnut Creek School District.

Good for you if you got your mail-in ballots in. And good for you if you've marked in time in whatever calendar you use to stop by your neighborhood polling place to vote.

Don't make the poor choice I made in last May's special election, when I didn't vote. Don't pull a Meg Whitman.

Come on, there's something very cool about getting to vote tomorrow. Those of us in the 10th congressional district get to decide on whom we want to send to Washington to represent us. Walnut Creek-ans get to decide on the enormously fateful question of whether they want a new luxury department store in town, and, we hope, put this whole Neiman Marcus controversy behind us. And property owners who live within two school district boundaries get to decide whether they think the schools need their financial help, via permanent parcel tax extensions.

Look, there is not a lot we can control in what's going on in the world, in this country, or even in this state. But we can make these local decisions that, especially with the school measures, affect us in an almost day-to-day way.

From Superintendent John Stockton: Final request for voters to say yes to Measure G

This is from John Stockton, superintendent of the Acalanes Union High School District, which covers Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek, three other high schools in Lamorinda, one continuation high school, and a well-regarded adult education program. He explains why he believes that permanently extending the $189 per parcel tax is essential to maintaining the schools' high level of quality. Yes, as many of us know, the Acalanes district high schools consistently rank among the top high schools in the Bay Area.

Measure G - What a "Yes" Vote Provides

With Election Day upon us, it is important to reflect upon the value of the Acalanes Union High School District parcel tax in regards to the educational excellence it provides to all students. The current $189 parcel tax generates approximately $6.7 million primarily to core and elective curricular student course offerings.

The AUHSD parcel tax pays for over 70 full-time teaching positions. This equates to in excess of 350 class sections of student course offerings. The average AUHSD high school has 69 full-time teaching positions. In essence, the current parcel tax pays for the teaching staff at one of the four comprehensive high schools.

Over the last several years, many districts have greatly increased class sizes and consolidated programs. The AUHSD parcel tax has buffered our students from extreme alternatives, which have been faced by other districts and will be faced by all districts next year. Sacramento has offered no signs of relief for California public schools. Local support is the best protection for any district's desire for quality education.

Many parent, civic, and K-8 school district organizations have provided great support and encouragement for Measure G during the last several months. Such sincere interest by concerned citizens promoting educational excellence has helped make the Acalanes Union High School District a nationally recognized learning community. If you have not already voted, please remember to cast your ballot tomorrow.

Tuesday election endorsements

No, not from me but from a more "reputable" sources, the Contra Costa Times and the San Francisco Chronicle:

Congressional District 10: Both newspapers give a thumbs up to Lt. John Garamendi. The Times says: "Garamendi's long record of service in public office makes him the best choice to represent residents in the district stretching from Fairfield through much of Contra Costa and into Livermore."

Walnut Creek's Measure I (what I'm calling the Neiman Marcus measure, even though, yes, I know, the intiative officially doesn't guarantee Neiman Marcus coming to Broadway Plaza, just a new department store): The Times says Yes.

Acalanes Union High School District's Measure G: The Times says Yes, because the district would be devastated if its $189 per parcel tax is not extended.

Walnut Creek School District's Measure H: The Times says Yes, because this extension of the $82 per parcel tax "is more critical than ever for operations."

Disappointing evening for Mt. Diablo schools: Measure D fails

Although the majority of people said "yes" to the Measure D $99 parcel tax to raise money for the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, it still received far less than the two-thirds support needed to pass it. With all precincts reporting in Tuesday's special election, 59 percent said "yes" and 41 percent "no," according to the Contra Costa County elections division.

Supporters said the measure was needed to bring $7 million annually to the district for five years. Last week, state budget cuts forced the district to lay off more than 400 teachers and other staff members.

In other election news, five of the six statewide ballot measures, meant to address the state's budget crisis, appeared to be losing, including Prop. 1A, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's "rainy day" stabilization fund, and 1B, which would have given schools more than $9 billion beginning in the 2011-12 fiscal year.

The failure of those five ballot measures mean that the state's $15 billion deficit is likely to to rise to more than $21 billion, and Schwarzenegger and the legislature will need to consider more cuts to education, public safety, and health and human services.

Analysts said the failure of five of the six measures reflects disgust by voters with state government's dysfunctional handling of our financial situation. Not surprisingly, the only measure passing with an overwhelming 74 percent was Proposition 1F, which would bar pay raises for elected officials when the state is running a deficit.

Also reflective of voters' disgust is the fact that voter turnout in Contra Costa County was only about 28 percent.