Election Update: Zane Trails, SMART Tax Extension Defeated in Wild Super Tuesday

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In what was an historic Super Tuesday nationwide, with former Vice President Joe Biden wresting control of the democratic primary battle, local Sonoma County and North Bay races were equally dramatic.

With all county precincts reporting, 3rd district supervisor Shirlee Zane trailed former Santa Rosa councilman and mayor Chris Coursey by 53 percent to 46 percent. Zane is a 12 year veteran of the Board of Supervisors.

However, with mail in ballots arriving late this year, and just 15 thousand ballots counted, the race was considered not yet decided as of Wednesday.

Meantime, two other supervisors facing challenges for their seats were both were well ahead and expected to win reelection.

First district supervisor Susan Gorin led her challenger Sonoma city councilman David Cook by 59 percent to 40 percent. And 5th district supervisor Lynda Hopkins led her challenger Mike Hilber by a large margin of 80 percent to 19 percent.

In other races, Measure I, the quarter cent SMART Tax extension was defeated. Needing a two thirds majority to pass, yes votes trailed no votes 49.9 percent to 50.1 percent. And measure G, a half cent sales tax to fund wildfire prevention and increased fire staffing and facility upgrades was leading 62 percent to 38 percent. However it was falling short of the two thirds majority needed to pass.

In other races 5th district congressman Mike Thompson was cruising to an easy victory with 67 percent of the vote, as was 2nd district congressman Jared Huffman with 65 percent of the vote.

Finally, a slate of school bonds were narrowly passing across the county. Bond measures in the West Side Union District, the Sebastopol Union District, the Roseland District, the Bellevue Union District, the West County Union District and the Geyserville District were all leading, with several needing 55 percent for passage still too close to call.