Oakdale voters sent a message on Tuesday, Nov. 4 with a resounding “Yes” in approving Measure Y, the continuation of a local half-cent sales tax, passing it by a 70 to 30 percent margin.
According to the Stanislaus County Clerk Recorders Office, 2,145 votes were cast in favor of the measure with only 927 opposing.
“If you want to sum it up, it turned out the best for the community,” said Committee Chairman Frank Clark. “It goes to show what a great town this is and when people see a need they step up.”
Proponents of the measure campaigned strongly in the weeks preceding the election with door-to-door canvasses and several supporters writing letters to the editor.
The city gains approximately $1.5 million, or 16 percent, for its general fund coffers from the sales tax charge. Advocates argued that without it there could be drastic cuts to its already stringent public safety positions and other public services.
“I’m grateful to the community for its confidence and support,” said Oakdale City Manager Bryan Whitemyer. “I think the city has a good plan in place. I feel blessed to have the support of this community.”
Whitemyer said he had planned for two different scenarios for the city with one for the sales tax money revenue and another without that included additional layoffs and closing of the senior and community centers.
As part of the plan for the next five years with the Measure Y funds Whitemyer has set out a blueprint on how to use the revenue and increase some of the public safety positions that were cut in previous years.
“I really appreciate the citizens of Oakdale who believed in their government and remain positive, recognizing not only the importance of police and fire, but the necessity for a senior center, a community center, and street lighting,” said Mayor Pat Paul. “A special ‘thank you’ goes out to Frank Clark and Mickey Peabody who headed the committee.”
Other results from the Nov. 4 election showed Mayor Pat Paul receiving 2,196 votes in her unopposed bid for reelection, receiving 91 percent of the vote. There were also a total of 222 write-in votes, accounting for 9 percent.
New Oakdale City Council members Cherilyn Bairos (1,873 votes) and J.R. McCarty (1,671) were unopposed in their run for two available seats on the council. There were also 59 write in votes for council candidates.
Local representatives fared well in the county as well, with Congressman Jeff Denham polling 57 percent of the Stanislaus County vote to 43 percent for Michael Eggman; Assembly member Kristin Olsen garnered 67 percent of the Stanislaus County vote totals over challenger Harinder Grewal, with 33 percent.
Statewide, Governor Jerry Brown easily outdistanced challenger Neel Kashkari in the race for the state’s top office, returning to the Capitol in Sacramento.
