first edition G4:first edition G4 11/5/14 7:42 AM Page 1 Presorted Standard PERMIT NO. 15 Yountville, CA 94599 Postal Patron Local ECRWSS Vol. 17, No. 22 a 21st century newspaper serving the heart of the Napa Valley November 6, 2014 No Election Surprises; Voters Return Incumbents Voter discontent demonstrated elsewhere around the nation during Tuesday’s general election was not apparent in Yountville. Council. Lone challenger Jerome Ghigliotti failed to gain traction with his campaign against the administration of the Two voters work on completing their ballots Tuesday at the Voter Assistance Center operating out of the reading room of the Yountville Library, inside Community Center. By comfortable margins three incumbents won re-election to three jobs on the Town’s California Veterans Home here, where he is a member fighting an eviction notice. With just eight votes separating their totals, Richard Hall and Marita Dorenbecher were returned to the Council with over 40 percent of the vote. Ghigliotti trailed with 16 percent. Yountville Unopposed, Mayor John Dunbar won reelection with 100 percent of the counted vote. While not all ballots cast in this election have been counted, the number of votes tallied and the trend those votes demonstrate are strong enough statistically to indicate the apparent outcome of this election, according to John Tuteur, Napa County’s registrar of voters. New tallies are expected to be released on November 17. (See related story on Page 4.) “I want to thank the residents of the Town of Yountville for entrusting me to serve another term as their representative for the Town Council. It is truly an honor to continue to serve our community. I look forward to working with the Town Council, Town staff and entire Yountville community on the opportunities and challenges presented over the next four years,” said Hall. “I am so grateful to all my friends and neighbors; veter- ans and townsfolk, for their support. Thank you for the Unofficial Napa County Election Returns 11/4/14 Vote Percent Count Yountville Town Council Richard Hall 451 42.03 Marita Dorenbecher 443 41.29 Jerome Ghigliotti 179 16.68 Total 1,073 Yountville Mayor John Dunbar 608 Measure Q Yes No 542 105 100.00 83.77 16.23 opportunity to serve for four more years. I am so happy that the balanced leadership we have built together will continue on. We have a very special Town here, and I will do my best to make sure it remains our happy hometown,” commented Dorenbecher. Yountville voters also approved an increase in the appropriation limit (Gann Limit) which appeared on the ballot as Measure Q. This measure enables the Town to fully utilize the TOT and sales taxes it generates. By approving this no new taxes are created nor will any existing Town tax increase. Fourth-term Napa County Supervisor Bill Dodd won election to the California State Assembly, becoming the first elected representative from Napa County in Sacramento in 35 years. Dodd said his last day on the Board of Supervisors will be November 25. “Clearly, if the voters of Napa County hadn’t overwhelmingly supported my campaign I wouldn’t have won,” Dodd remarked. “I see so many things I can do for my constituents in Napa County when I go to Sacramento.” On the national front, U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson of St. Helena, was re-elected to California’s Fifth Congressional District, a seat he has held since 1999. “I am honored and humbled by our district’s overwhelming show of support. Now that the elections are over, it’s time to move forward -- not divided as Republicans and Democrats, but as Americans -- with the common purpose of making sure our country remains a place where everyone who works hard and plays by the rules has the opportunity to get ahead and succeed,” he stated. Quake: Thanks for Mutual Aid, Repair Ahead for Wall The August 24 earthquake came up several times at Tuesday’s meeting of the Yountville Town Council. Napa City Manager Mike Parness and Napa’s Water General Manager Joy Eldredge appeared on behalf of the residents and businesses of Napa to thank Town of Yountville employees who showed up to help restore water service to the city after the quake. They presented water bottles and tshirts as a gesture of appreciation for the mutual aid the Town staff provided. Yountville’s Deputy Public Works Director Debby Hight reported to the Council that bsundial High Low Wednesday 10/29 83 47 Thursday 79 52 Friday 61 52 Saturday 70 42 Sunday 72 43 Monday 73 40 Tuesday 76 40 Precipitation = 0.22 Season Total = 1.41 Last Year = 1.08 the flood wall around Rancho de Napa and Gateway Estates has been evaluated by engineers following the earthquake. She said there is one spot where the wall shifted near the pump station, and this will likely require repair work to the wall. Town Manager Steve Rogers said emergency funds available through FEMA, the Office of Emergency Services and the State of California will likely cover most of the cost, with the Town liable for about 6.75 percent of the total cost. Hight said a report on the extent of the repairs required may be received as soon as next week. Other small cracks identified in the wall during the recent inspection, she said, are due to shrinkage and normal wear and tear and are not related to quake damage. They will be repaired by the Town. Rogers also noted that the red tag that had been attached to the oldest building at Maison Fleurie has been removed and that all of that business has now reopened and is structurally sound, though some repair work continues. Maison Fleurie was the only structure in the town to be red tagged after the recent earthquake. Halloween -- Not Just for Youngsters Residents and staff of the Veterans Home showed up on Halloween decked out in a variety of costumes ready to amuse and inspire some fright. When it was all said and done, Ron Trammel as Charlie Chaplin was judged the overall winner of the costume contest. Dancing followed. Now the veterans move on to more serious business, observing Veterans Day. See Page 4 for events ahead as well as coverage of yesterday’s 10th annual Celebrity Chefs’ Luncheon. (Photo by Glen Nock.)
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