The latest election results from Morgan Hill show incumbent mayor Mark Turner holding a commanding lead over Yvonne Martínez Beltrán, while Miriam Vega and Soraida Iwanaga are set to take the two vacant city council seats.
In the mayoral race, City Councilmember Martínez Beltrán challenged Turner. The pair are often publicly at odds on issues ranging from peace resolutions in the Israel-Gaza war to tax deals for a luxury hotel. Their diverging visions for Morgan Hill moved from the dais to the ballot box as part of the 2024 election cycle, where they publicly exchanged barbs over their experience and accomplishments.
If the results stand, Martínez Beltrán will keep her city council seat and Turner his mayoral seat.
Morgan Hill City Council candidates, from left, David Dindak, Miriam Vega, Soraida Iwanaga and Michael Orosco. (Courtesy photos)
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For District A, culinary education instructor Vega, who called for a more affordable, livable Morgan Hill held a strong lead over wine bar owner David Dindak, who highlighted quality of life, public safety and budget sustainability.
In District C, hospital nurse Iwanaga, who spoke to the “frustrating” rate of growth in the city, was on track to best electoral engineer Michael Orosco, who touted his experience as a planning commissioner as proof of his ability to guide the city.
The results suggest that Vega and Iwanaga’s messages of preserving the character of Morgan Hill resonated with voters.
The new mayor and council will have to manage the need for affordable housing with concerns that growth could change the face of Morgan Hill, all while finding ways to support a growing population — striking a balance between being a “bedroom community” of commuters to Silicon Valley and attracting new jobs so people can live and work in the city. Meanwhile, the city faces a looming budget deficit, adding urgency to the need to create revenue streams and bring in economic growth.