Incumbent Glenn Church has a significant lead over challenger Ramon Gomez in the first batch of election night returns for Monterey County Board of Supervisors District 2.
The first wave of results were released just after polls closed at 8 p.m.
Out of 7,445 total votes cast, Church has 5,345 votes or 71.79%. Ramon Gomez has 2,100 or 28.21%.
This initial report covers vote by mail ballots received and processed during the early voting period and early in-person votes reported in the polling place category.
“I’m feeling very confident,” said Church before the returns were announced. “The response on the campaign trail has been far more positive than four years ago. People who have volunteered for me on door knocking or phone calling tell me they have had very positive responses.”
Earlier in the day, Ramon Gomez said, “I’m feeling good, we ran a good campaign. I wish we had another two, three weeks but I’m really happy with the volunteers, donors and voters.”
The races
Two seats on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, Districts 2 and 3, are up for election, with incumbents Glenn Church and Chris Lopez both seeking reelection.
Lopez is running unopposed. Church is challenged by Ramon Gomez, chief-of-staff for Santa Cruz County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez.
Gomez described himself as a “longtime North Monterey County resident, father, and proven public servant.” His priorities include keeping families safe, strengthening flood protection, fire prevention, fixing neglected roads, protecting agriculture and delivering practical results, according to his campaign website.
Church was elected to the board in 2022. Church said that since taking office, he has held more than three dozen community meetings and town halls across the district, “meeting people where they live and work, listening directly, and bringing those voices into county decision-making.”
District 2 covers the northernmost part of the Monterey County, including Pajaro, Aromas, Boronda, Castroville, Las Lomas, Moss Landing, Prunedale, Royal Oaks and parts of Salinas.
As of July 2024, a supervisor’s salary is $167,040 annually or $13,920 monthly, according to the county website.
Glenn Church
Ramon Gomez
Visit our Elections page throughout the day Tuesday, June 2, for the latest news, results and more as the California 2026 Primary gets underway.
This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Glenn Church takes early lead in in Monterey County supervisors race
Reporting by Roseann Cattani, Salinas Californian / Salinas Californian
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
