Early signs point to slim voter enthusiasm for a Santa Clara County sales tax measure that could mean the difference between public hospital cuts and closures — and the opposition campaign is heating up.
A poll commissioned by the county’s public safety unions shows potential voters narrowly favoring Measure A, the five-eighth cent sales tax increase on the Nov. 4 special election ballot. Pollsters with J. Wallin Opinion Research say 58% of 400 respondents speaking English and Spanish indicated they would vote yes, with just one-third indicating they were a definite yes. The poll reports a roughly 5% margin of error.
The poll’s law enforcement funders initially voiced skepticism about Measure A, which county leaders have pushed as an emergency lifeline for their hospital system facing crushing federal cuts. The public safety unions, facing their own county department budget woes, questioned whether they too would get some of Measure A’s estimated $330 million in new revenue every year, if approved.
Those qualms apparently subsided after the unions — along with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and District Attorney Jeff Rosen — announced their support for Measure A in October. Their poll argues Measure A can win over more Republicans if proponents emphasize the tax will also help law enforcement and the courts.
“While Measure A is obviously about our hospitals and health clinics, it is also the reality that every vital county service is deeply affected and inextricably dependent on the health care system,” County Executive James Williams told San José Spotlight.
Michael Elliott — president of Valley Health Foundation, the private nonprofit fundraising arm of the county’s health care system — is chairing the official “Yes on A” committee that’s campaigning independently of the public safety unions. He said he is unfamiliar with the pollster.
“But it’s no surprise that it shows Measure A up with voters, which is consistent with everything we’re seeing,” Elliott told San José Spotlight. “We’re cautiously optimistic that we’re going to win on Tuesday.”
It comes as opponents of Measure A are stepping up efforts to turn voters the other way.
More than a week after raising concerns about county-funded mailers indirectly aimed at swaying residents on the tax, the “No on Measure A” committee has filed a complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission alleging untimely campaign disclosures by the public safety unions. It also alleges Santa Clara County Sheriff Bob Jonsen improperly wore his uniform in a mass mailer supporting the measure.
Jonsen did not respond to requests for comment. A representative for the public safety coalition also did not respond.
Meanwhile, an attorney for Measure A opponents — whose August court battle resulted in a decision allowing Measure A to proceed with minor ballot language changes — has filed an appeal in state appellate court.
“The legal challenge to Measure A likely will continue for several more months if not years,” the attorney, Jason Bezis, told San José Spotlight.
Rishi Kumar, the No on Measure A Committee chair who will also appear on the Nov. 4 ballot as an assessor candidate, rebukes the county’s premise for the tax increase.
“Instead of using public resources to push a tax hike that burdens working families, the county should focus on addressing its fiscal mismanagement,” Kumar told San José Spotlight. “Accountability, transparency and respect for voters must come before politics.”
Kumar and an attorney for the No on Measure A committee also raised concerns about a campaign for the rally on county property. On Thursday, county supervisors, health care workers and labor unions gathered at Valley Medical Center for a last ditch public show of support for the measure.
“The No on Measure A campaign strongly believes that government assets — such as the Valley Medical Center, funded by taxpayers — must never be used to promote a ballot measure,” Kumar said.
Williams declined to comment on the complaint as it did not name the county. Elliott said he did not review the complaint closely.
“It does not impact our campaign,” he told San José Spotlight.
Contact Brandon Pho at [email protected] or @brandonphooo on X.
