Though she finished behind Orinda Mayor Steve Glazer in the race for the state Senate District 7 seat in Tuesday’s special election, Assemblymember Susan Bonilla qualified for the runoff election.
Glazer, the leader at 31,859 votes, received 32.8 percent of the ballots, according to Secretary of State Alex Padilla, who posted the results at 11:42 p.m. that night.
Bonilla was second, with 24,161 votes and 24.9 percent of the ballots.
Both are Democrats. Bonilla, D-Concord, represents Benicia in the Assembly. They will face off in another special election May 19.
Of the other contenders, former Assemblymember Joan Buchanan got 21,912 votes, or 22.6 percent. The sole Republican in the race, information technology executive Michaela M. Hertle, who withdrew and endorsed Glazer, still got 16,462 votes, or 17 percent, as she withdrew too late for her name to be removed from the ballot.
Terry Kremin, a teacher, scientist and lecturer, received 2,710 votes, or 2.8 percent of those cast.
Benicia isn’t in the Seventh District, the Senate seat for which became vacant when state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier was elected to Congress last November, filling former Benicia Rep. George Miller’s vacant seat. So Benicians did not vote Tuesday.
But the race could affect the city if Bonilla wins in May. Her Assembly seat would remain vacant until a special election, called by Gov. Jerry Brown, decides her successor. That vote wouldn’t take place until 126 to 140 days after the governor makes the announcement, according to Allie Schembra, press assistant in the California Secretary of State’s office.
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Benicia will not lose an Assembly member if you vote for Steve Glazer in the runoff election.,
But, loosing Susan as an Assembly member might be a good thing for she never represented the best interests of the citizens of Benicia. Remember the BART strike? Remember the traffic mess for all – including union members – trying to get to their jobs? According to Susan the strike affected just the BART riders. For over two months I have repeatedly called and emailed Susan and asked her what is her position on making transit strikes illegal like San Francisco, New York and others. Neither Susan nor her staff has never replied either by phone or email. The union mailers have not stated an answer. She does not represent the citizens – she represents the unions., Are you going to let the unions run your government ignoring your needs?
Vote for Steve Glazer.