Patrick Tang: Call for Change Reaches Past Waterfront

In analyzing the election results provided by the County Elections Division (see here, then click "view all data"), I find it interesting that John Delgado prevailed in every single precinct in Hercules.

Myrna De Vera prevailed in every single precinct except one, Precinct 218. In that lone precinct, Kris Valstad landed in second place, receiving slightly more votes than De Vera.  

The fact that the challengers swept all but one precinct in Hercules shows that the desire for cleaning house was NOT confined to the Waterfront. A majority of Herculeans in each precinct came to the same conclusion, that the ethically challenged city council must give way to elected officials who promise to maintain higher ethical standards. 

When Waterfront residents started questioning the city's leadership, the council tried to portray Waterfront residents as a "faction" that does not represent the opinions of residents in the rest of the city. We were constantly referred to as "the new residents," as if living in Hercules for less than ten years should somehow give us less of a voice in local affairs. 

One council member went so far as to describe Waterfront residents as "elitists" and "NIMBYs." In the middle of an election, the council secretly commissioned the now infamous SRI phone survey, intended to turn public opinion against the Waterfront project, and the residents who support it. Clearly, the council has tried to exploit perceived divisions between Waterfront residents and Herculeans generally, in order to marginalize the Waterfront folks.   

The election results reveal much more than the survey ever could. Clearly, in voting for new leadership in every precinct, Herculeans proved of like mind when it came to demanding change at City Hall.  The council's attempt to divide the city failed, because there was – in reality – no division of opinion to exploit. No matter where they reside, Herculeans essentially saw eye-to-eye and voted for change.