Sales-Tax Extension Gets Backing

Voters in San Bernardino and Riverside counties went to the polls in large numbers Tuesday to decide critical money issues -- from extending a transportation tax to restricting a municipal utility’s spending -- and to pick winners in hotly contested races for the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and the Corona City Council.

Long lines, and at least one minor computer glitch in Riverside County, delayed tallies, but early returns indicated that San Bernardino County voters strongly supported Measure I, a 30-year extension of a half-cent sales tax, which would pay for $8 billion in transportation projects. The tax is scheduled to expire in 2010.

Measure I has been supported by local government leaders, transportation officials and real estate and construction companies. Supporters were confident of a victory, but they noted that a change in the law in 1995 requires the support of two-thirds of voters, not a simple majority. Early returns indicated the measure would clear that hurdle.

“We think our message of improving roads and relieving traffic really resonated with voters,” said Pete Aguilar, a spokesman for San Bernardino County Taxpayers for Traffic Relief, the group promoting the measure.

Supporters spent more than $1 million on campaign mailers urging voters to support Measure I to fight gridlock and keep roads well maintained.

Moreno Valley voters weighed in on Measure N, the most expensive ballot measure in the city’s history, which would restrict spending by the municipal utility.

Early results showed a dead heat on the measure. The measure, backed by more than $2 million from Southern California Edison, would forbid money from the city’s general fund from going to the agency; require the utility to maintain a reserve account equal to 20% of the agency’s operating expenses; forbid the utility to spend its profits for five years, and then only with voter approval; and require the utility to charge similar customers the same rates.

City leaders opposed the measure, saying Edison was trying to eliminate competition by debilitating the municipal utility. They said the measure undercut the reasons for creating it, which were to allow Moreno Valley to generate revenue and use discounted power rates to attract business.

Edison officials said they funded the measure to support its customers who fear the new city agency would drain Moreno Valley’s finances.

Among the hotly contested races in San Bernardino County is the campaign for the Board of Supervisors seat vacated by Gerald “Jerry” Eaves, who resigned in January after pleading guilty to a felony corruption charge.

The race pitted Assemblyman John Longville (D-Rialto) against Fontana City Councilwoman Josie Gonzales.

Despite being outspent, Longville held an slight edge in early poll numbers.

The campaign has been a bruising battle. Gonzales accused Longville of being too closely tied to Eaves, and one of Gonzales’ campaign mailers depicted Longville’s head on the body of a rat.

Longville conceded that he was an ally of Eaves’ but that it was unfair to judge him by his associations, and fired back at Gonzales, charging that she was able to compete in the race only by funding her campaign with personal loans.

The candidates were vying for a district that is primarily composed of working-class residents.

Gonzales raised about $580,000 for the campaign, including personal loans of about $216,000, according to campaign statements. Longville raised about $520,000, statements say.

A second Board of Supervisors seat became vacant last year when Fred Aguiar resigned to take a post in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Cabinet.

The candidates in that race were Ontario Mayor Gary C. Ovitt, Chino Mayor Eunice M. Ulloa and businessman Maurice Ayala of Chino Hills. The winner will finish Aguiar’s term, which ends in December 2006.

In Corona, two incumbents faced uncertain reelection prospects for the City Council, once a congenial panel that is now awash in political infighting. Developers and police and fire unions poured tens of thousands of dollars into these races, and campaigning grew heated as the election neared.

In early results, incumbent Jeff Miller and newcomer Steve Nolan, a retired police officer and parks commissioner, lead the field to capture the two seats. That was bad news for incumbent Jeffery P. Bennett, who was third, because only the two top vote-getters will be elected to the council.

Political analysts and legislators across the state also were watching a heated Assembly battle to represent eastern Riverside County and all of Imperial County, one of this election’s few uncertain Legislature races.

Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia (R-Cathedral City) was leading in early results against Democrat Mary Ann Andreas to represent the 80th District, which includes El Centro, Calexico, Cathedral City, Indio and Palm Springs.

Democrats have an edge in voter registration in the district, which Garcia won by fewer than 2,500 votes in 2002.

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Times staff writers Sandra Murillo and Janet Wilson contributed to this report.