School taxes in Mountain View pass despite spending controversy; incumbents and former council members re-elected

Voters in the Mountain View Whisman School District overwhelmingly backed a new parcel tax in yesterday’s (Tuesday’s) election despite a controversy over spending on things like an “energy healer.”

Measure AA was passing last night in early returns with 74% of the vote (9,168 yes, 3,150 no). It needs two-thirds to pass..

The new tax would bring in about $5.4 million per year, up from the $3 million from the current parcel tax that expires next summer..

Spending criticized

Parents have criticized former Superintendent Ayinde Rudolph for spending tax funds on contracts that don’t directly benefit students, including an “energy healer” who was hired to meditate with school employees for more than $1,000 a session. Rudolph resigned last week..

The state’s Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team is reviewing the district for potential fraud.

School board race Also in yesterday’s election, candidates Ana Kristina Reed, Lisa Henry and Charles Difazio were leading in early returns. They would replace Laura Ramirez Berman, Laura Blakely and Chris Chiang. Chiang resigned over the summer because he moved to Redwood City, while Berman and Blakely chose not to seek re-election. Reed was ahead with 4,551 votes followed by Henry (4,493) and Difazio (4,040). Receiving less than 4,000 in the first batch of votes were Christine Case-Lo, Erin Davis-Hung, Raymond White, Nancy Mize and Shawn Dormishian.

City’s Measure G

In early returns, the city’s Measure G to fund a new police station along with parks and other services was comfortably ahead 10,449 to 3,954. When it comes to the City Council, it appears voters re-elected two incumbents and brought back two former council members from the past.

Councilwoman Pat Showalter led the nine-candidate field with 7,272 votes. She was followed by fellow Councilwoman Emily Ann Ramos with 6,807. In third was former Councilman Chris Clark with 5,539 and in fourth was another former councilman, John McAlister, at 5,034.

Clark was on council from 2013 to 2021. McAlister also was on council from 2013 to 2021.

The vote totals printed above are early returns, so the final four could change.

Those who appeared last night to have lost are IdaRose Sylvester, school board member Devon Conley, Erik Poicon, Nicholas Hargis and Jose Gutierrez.