Hayward Herald Voter Guide 2024

Your guide to all the local elections, propositions, and measures that you'll see in your Hayward ballot. All the information you'll need this November in one place!

Chances are good you decided who you were voting for in the national races ages ago. But information on local races is hard to come by. Who are these people and what will it mean if they get elected? And those propositions! We have so many of them every year on all kinds of things. How much do they even matter here in Hayward?

We’ve put together a voter guide specifically with Hayward in mind. Below you’ll find information on all 10 propositions and every local race covering part of Hayward. Be sure to check your registration status, keep an eye on important dates, and know where your ballot dropboxes and voting locations are!

Important Voter Registration Deadlines

• Monday, October 21: Deadline to register online

• Monday, October 21: Deadline to register by mail

• Tuesday, November 5: Deadline register in-person

• Tuesday, November 5: ELECTION DAY

Propositions

Provided by FAJ Action Fund and HayCoCoa

Propositions are laws that someone who isn’t a member of the California Legislature (our state government) can write. And although anyone can write them, most are put together by community organizations, non-profits, and for-profit corporations. Ones that for-profit corporations write tend to get a LOT of ad-time and the advertisements can be really misleading—looking at you Prop 22. 

So the Hayward Herald, partnering with the FAJ Action Fund and local organizers from the Hayward Community Coalition (HayCoCoa), has put together this voter guide so you know what the propositions are, who’s funding them, and why you should vote for or against them. 

In Brief: 
YES: Propositions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 32, 33, & 35
NO: Propositions 34, 36

Prop 2: YES

Public Education Facilities Bond Measure

If you care about kids learning in buildings that don’t have rot, mold, leaks, or other hazards, then you want to support Prop 2. K-12 schools across the state would receive $8,500,000,000 and community colleges across the state would get $1,500,000,000. HUSD’s facilities are in a bad state and this would help address that here in Hayward. This has been funded by the California Teacher’s Association (CTA) and the California Building Industry Association.

Prop 3: YES

Right to Marry and Repeal Proposition 8 Amendment

Remember Proposition 8 from way back in 2008? Yeah, that’s still on the books, unfortunately. Prop 3 would repeal Proposition 8—which defined marriage as between a man and a woman—and also enshrine the right to same-sex marriage in the California constitution. Let’s do right by our LGBTQIA+ neighbors, shall we? The CTA is also supporting this one, along with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.

Prop 4: YES

Parks, Environment, Energy, & Water Bond Measure

If you understand that water can’t be taken for granted in California anymore—the droughts will keep happening—then you know that tackling water projects, wildfire protection, and habitat preservation are important, too. This bond will bring $10,000,000,000 to help pay for what makes life livable—and it comes with fiscal oversight built in. Our friends in the hills could use some help with their wildfire protection, and although Hayward has great parks, wouldn't you like to see some more? Prop 4 is being supported by the California Coalition of Land Trusts and “a Coalition of Environmental Advocates Across California.”

Prop 5: YES

Lower Supermajority Requirement to 55% for Local Bond Measures to Fund Housing and Public Infrastructure Amendment

Right now, to borrow money for an affordable housing project local governments need a 66% majority vote across the state as though it was a new tax. Prop 5 lowers the requirement to 55%, making it easier for local governments to get money for affordable housing projects. Hayward has had a lot of affordable housing projects, and Prop 5 will allow us to keep helping our unhoused and housing-insecure neighbors and drive down homelessness. Prop 5 is being supported by the Non Profit Housing Action Fund and the California Alliance for Jobs.

Prop 6: YES

Remove Involuntary Servitude as Punishment for Crime Amendment

Nobody should be forced to work against their will, especially in prison. This is so straightforward, literally nobody is against it. Let’s end slavery in California, shall we? You probably know someone who’s been impacted by the criminal legal system even if you don’t know who. We know it’s not a fair system, so let’s not enslave people who get caught up in it. Prop 6 is being supported by the Anti Recidivism Coalition and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.

Prop 32: YES

$18 Minimum Wage Initiative

Minimum wage hasn’t kept up with cost of living or inflation—according to one analysis, the federal minimum wage would be over $21/hour if it had. Prop 32 will give a small, but significant bump to minimum wage workers in California. Wage increases will make our hard-working neighbors more housing secure, able to purchase essential goods, and give them more money to spend on things they need. All workers deserve a living wage. This was primarily paid for by Joe Sanberg who, despite being a very wealthy guy, seems pretty okay.

Prop 33: YES

Limitations on Local Rent Control Initiative

Do you live in a rented detached house in Hayward and wish you could benefit from rent control? Well you can if this passes! Hayward has a form of rent control, but chances are good that it doesn’t apply to you because of a law called the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (1995). Prop 33 will repeal it and will help keep people housed and in Hayward, instead of moving them to the streets or the Valley. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation sponsored this proposition—more on that below.

Prop 34: NO

Require Certain Participants in Medi-Cal Rx Program to Spend 98% of Revenues on Patient Care Initiative

Prop 33 (above) is being put forward by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), which has lead the charge on statewide rent control initiatives and propositions for years. The California Apartment Association (CAA)—the landlords who own your apartments—don’t like them. This proposition is specifically designed to prevent the AHF from funding future rent control measures. Unsurprisingly, this was put on the ballot by a PAC paid for by the CAA and the California Association of Realtors.

Don’t let the corporate suits who profit from your rent use our garbage healthcare system to scare you into kneecapping an ally.

Prop 35: YES

Creation of New Healthcare Fund Initiative

This funds Medi-Cal and also stops lawmakers from shuffling that money somewhere else any time the budget takes a hit. The money comes from a tax on managed healthcare insurance plans. This will directly help safety-net hospitals like St. Rose which rely on Medi-Cal patients. And we already do this, it’s just making it permanent! This is being supported by the California Medical Association and the California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems.

Prop 36: NO

Allows Felony Charges and Increases Sentences for Certain Drug and Theft Crimes 

The pendulum swings again. This is some tough-on-crime nonsense that undoes something we decided on 10 years ago. It’ll land more people in jail with harsher penalties and reduce funding for education, mental health, and homelessness prevention in favor of imprisonment. Our neighbors steal out of desperation and and need these safety nets to help. This is primarily funded by corporate big-box stores: Walmart, Target, and Home Depot—many of whom pay their employees so little that they have to rely on food pantries—and also the Prison Guard’s union.

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Local Offices And Measures

Endorsed by Councilmember George Syrop

Local offices have immense impact on your daily life. These people decide what roads get paved, what services get funded, what schools stay open, and where the busses go. But these races often get no coverage and force voters to rely on whatever candidate statements get published by the County.

Following our mission to bring you comprehensive local news, the Hayward Herald has partnered with Councilmember George Syrop to bring you his endorsements for local office. We hope this gives you some perspective on who they are and what they hope to do for us in Hayward.

NOTE: Councilmember George Syrop’s endorsements do not necessarily reflect the perspective of the Hayward Herald, FAJ Action Fund, or the Hayward Community Coalition.

20th Assembly District

• Liz Ortega

Liz Ortega entered state politics by way of leading the Alameda Labor Council, which represents unionized workers across the East Bay. Since her election to the CA State Assembly in 2022, she’s been effective at drawing state funds down into our community and is actively working to prevent Hayward’s only hospital, St. Rose, from closing (which would leave its 400,000 annual patients without local care). 

Chabot - Las Positas Community College District Trustee - Area 1

• Hector Garcia

Hector is a long-time Hayward resident with a strong track record of supporting students. Before he was Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment for Hayward Unified School District, he led Hayward Promise Neighborhood to improve graduation rates in lower-income neighborhoods and established a free lunch and literacy program in partnership with other community organizations. Hector brings a wealth of results and relationships to the table that will make him an effective representative for our college students’ needs. His opponent, and current incumbent, is running for five seats at once and has wasted taxpayer dollars and time impeding the work of the Chabot-Las Positas Board in order to wage a culture war.

Hayward Unified School District (H.U.S.D.) Governing Board Members

• Austin Bruckner-Carrillo

• Sara Prada

• Peter Bufete

Sara and Peter are currently in office and have earned my support for re-election because they were the deciding votes that prevented the closure of six schools in 2021. They were also successful in securing funding for future school renovations with the recent passing of Measure I. The school district has many issues to address, which is why I’m also supporting Austin for the third, open seat. Austin was my former colleague on the City of Hayward’s Community Services Commission, where he demonstrated a strong commitment to justice, attention to detail, and the courage to speak up. His ability to translate his values into action will only benefit our students as we push for a district that serves all of our students. All three candidates are endorsed by our Hayward teacher’s union, the Hayward Education Association (HEA). Their opponent was previously removed from the Board for holding two elected seats at once, and is now running for five seats at the same time.

Hayward City Council

• Ray Bonilla, Jr.

• Dan Goldstein

• Angela Andrews

• Francisco Zermeño

This section will be a little longer given my direct experience with my colleagues. I currently serve alongside these four candidates/incumbents on the Hayward City Council and while there are issues we disagree on, we have learned to work together to deliver for residents, and delivering for Hayward is what comes first.

I myself was not endorsed by any of my colleagues during my campaign, so I am open to hearing non-”establishment” perspectives. I attended candidate forums to learn more about the other folks in this race. Unfortunately, some of the other candidates are running for multiple seats. And while I respect the service and work ethic of some of the non-incumbents, I was disappointed by their grasp of city issues and their willingness to spread misinformation and spin half-truths about how the city is addressing some of its most pressing issues. There’s a difference between being a good campaigner and someone that knows how to govern, and my endorsements reflect who I believe will keep our city steady as we move onwards and upwards. 

The Hayward Herald interviewed each of the incumbents over the summer, and each interview will be linked to the candidate names below if you’re interested in learning more about their vision for Hayward.

Ray Bonilla has been a strong partner, bringing 20+ years of city service, lived experience, and excellent management skills to the table. Ray consistently pushes our City to operate at a higher level of quality and competency, work that often goes unacknowledged but benefits all of us. Whether we’re setting the city’s strategic roadmap or pushing for a more balanced budget, Ray wants it done right for residents, and that’s a quality we should demand from all of our elected leaders. Ray was appointed to fill Supervisor Marquez’s former council seat.

Dan Goldstein was my former opponent in 2022 and was appointed to the Council to fill Mayor Salinas’s former council seat. Dan has consistently surprised me with the level of empathy and open-mindedness he brings to every issue presented to the Council. He has years of experience serving on city commissions and neighborhood groups, and I always trust that he has peoples’ best interests in mind when making a decision. Together, we’ve made progress on housing reforms in Hayward that I hope to see through with him.

Angela Andrews and I both share an academic background in city planning, and I’ve been impressed with her vision for economic development. From public art initiatives to cultural events to attracting new businesses for residents to enjoy, Angela is working hard to make Hayward a destination and a better place to live (while generating sales tax revenue for city services in the process!). Angela has been a vocal supporter of the Hayward HEART program, a mental health emergency response system the Hayward Community Coalition fought for in 2020, as well as a champion for our Russell City Reparative Justice process.

Francisco Zermeño is running for his fifth term since he made serving Hayward his life’s purpose. He’s been a valuable partner on a few of my initiatives: As AC Transit Liaisons for the City of Hayward, we began the process of installing bus benches citywide to improve the ridership experience for residents and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. Zermeño’s support of my motion to divest sent a clear signal that our tax dollars belong here in our community for roads, schools, and services, and not for bombs and mass starvation. Hayward’s divestment was the first of many organizations divesting across the U.S. in protest of the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Aside from these projects, Zermeño remains one of our most accessible Council Members for residents(as long as you’re willing to meet him at Eon Café).

AC Transit District - Ward 6

• Jesse Gunn

Jesse Gunn was raised in Hayward and serves our community as a city commissioner, public school teacher at Tennyson High (and represents his teacher union on the Alameda Labor Council), and co-leads CELI (one of the largest, collaborative climate education initiatives being undertaken by CSU Hayward in partnership with the city, school, and park districts). Jesse worked with me to mobilize parents, teachers, students and workers to prevent the closure of six schools back in 2021. The multiple hats Jesse wears give him a unique perspective on the needs of our community, especially those who depend on public transportation to survive, and he proudly takes the bus himself.

BART Director - District 5 

• Melissa Hernandez

BART District 5 encompasses our Downtown Hayward BART station, but the only folks who can vote for this seat must live in the North Hayward/Upper B St/Fairview Area. Melissa Hernandez was appointed to the District 5 seat earlier this year, bringing experience as Dublin’s former Mayor along with her. Melissa’s opponent, Grcar, has run a series of half-baked campaigns over the years and is joining other conservatives in the area to run for several seats at once.

Hayward Area Recreation & Park District (H.A.R.D.) Directors

• Louis Andrade

• Rick Hatcher

• Peter Rosen

These three incumbents have earned their seats on its Board through years of service to the community, whether through community garden initiatives, local journalism projects, or their general advocacy for the needs of their neighbors. Under their steady leadership they’ve been successful at securing funding for renovations across the district. In my experience working with them, they have been accessible and receptive to the needs of the City as we partner to develop new parks together. Their opponent is running for five seats at once.

Eden Township Healthcare District Director - Area 4

• Sabrina Aranda

Sabrina is a Hayward High graduate who has poured her heart into Hayward behind the scenes for years. Professionally she directs student and parent support programs for the Hayward Unified School District, and I’ve worked closely with her over the last year to coordinate resources and develop new programs that will address TK-12 student homelessness in our city. Outside of her role within H.U.S.D., Aranda serves residents on the board of local nonprofits and foundations. Aranda’s relationships, lived experience, and connection to some of our most vulnerable families will ensure the community-health related grants distributed by the Eden Township Healthcare District speak to the needs of our community. Her opponent is running for five seats at once.

Measure K1: Yes

Ten years ago, Hayward voters approved a ½ cent sales tax (Measure C) to fund priority city services and upgrade aging public facilities. With this funding, the City constructed a new fire training center, renovated five fire stations, built the Downtown Library, completed the largest road improvement project in the city’s history, reduced graffiti and illegal dumping, added police department positions, and more. The City is asking for residents to extend our current sales tax, NOT increase it, allowing it to meet our facility and service needs as our city continues to grow.

The buildings that house core city functions like animal services, the Weekes Branch library in South Hayward, and police dispatch are in need of renovation and/or new construction to accommodate staffing needs as Hayward’s population increases. Ongoing projects like the Stack Community Center and our mental health crisis response system (HEART) require funding to ensure Hayward is providing for all residents across our city. I’ve personally worked to support the success of this measure because it represents an investment in our City’s future, our quality of life, and Hayward’s next chapter.