Cover Story: Pasadena Has Spoken – Pasadena Now

It didn't take long to figure out the fate of local races on Election Day. When the first batch of votes came in, most races were obviously over as local measures were leading with well over 80% of the vote. Only one issue remains contested, a school Board parcel tax, that needs more than two-thirds of the vote to pass.

"I think Pasadena is really a beacon," Vice Mayor Steve Madison told Pasadena Now on Wednesday. Madison voted to support all of the City Charter Reform measures and also supported the library and the two school measures and made phone calls to support the library.

The County registrar is still tabulating votes, and the library bond measure currently leads with 71.65% of the vote, or 32,136 votes. The measure will levy $28.90 per $100,000 of assessed property value to fund earthquake retrofitting, safety upgrades, and technology modernization at the historic facility.

He also supported two other measures that received little attention. Measure PF, ensuring continued fire and police representation on the City's retirement Board, passed with 85.20% approval. A rent control measure, PR, which aligns senior and disabled definitions with state law and modifies eviction rules, received 62.92% of votes.

"Our constituents backed investing in libraries and in the central library in particular," Madison said. "They backed it through all the negative stuff. We pushed through parcel taxes and the bond measure for our schools."

Charter Reform

Voters showed strong support for three City Charter amendments affecting City governance. Measure PC, establishing term limits for Mayor and Councilmembers, passed with 81.50% approval. The measure limits officials to three consecutive terms, allowing two additional terms after a four-year break.

Measures PA and PB, reforming special election procedures and Council organization, remain above more than 85% support. PA requires special elections for certain Council vacancies, while PB modifies the timing of organizational meetings and Vice Mayor selection.

The City has not had City Charter Reform at this level since 1998, when the City Charter was amended to include a Mayor elected at large by local residents. No sitting Councilmember was on the City Council at that point, although several have seen some City Charter Reform, including a measure that gave the County control over local elections. However, that was placed on the ballot over concerns regarding violations of state law.

Madison praised the City's Charter Reform Task Force and said that down to a person they did heavy lifting.

"They had diverse views, lived in diverse parts of the City, they work in diverse occupations, and still everybody was fabulous. And I think they deserve credit for that. What you were just describing, for educating people, pushing the word out, staying involved. Ken Chawkins did a yeoman's job on this. Fred Register wrote the mail for the library. I think we raised like $300,000. The library friends of the library were there whenever we needed them. The cops and the firefighters supported the library. They get it. If we could just get one out of 10 kids who were on the fence to go to the library instead of going to a gang, that would be a huge win. I'm buoyed about that and I think it may disprove my concerns about being part of a bigger election, meaning that people lose attention or focus. And this one I think people in Pasadena pay attention. They really pay attention and it's terrific."

School Daze

The school District faced the most vitriol. School Board members placed a parcel tax measure and a bond measure on the ballot. Measure EE, which requires 66.67% approval to pass, secured 67.84% of the votes in the returns. The $90 annual parcel tax would generate $5 million yearly for eight years to fund Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math programs and mental health services in the Pasadena Unified School District.

In total, 1,190 yes votes were recorded for the measure on Wednesday and 556 no votes. The measure now has garnered 46,793 votes in favor and 22,180 against.

The parcel tax includes exemptions for senior citizens aged 65 and older for their residences and mandates annual audits with public oversight. Funds will support competitive wages for teachers and staff while expanding career training and college readiness courses, and housing for District employees.

Meanwhile, Measure R, a $900 million general obligation bond requiring 55% approval, remains well above that threshold. So far, Measure R has received a 63.88% support rate, receiving 43,619 yes votes and 24,662 no votes. The bond will fund classroom expansions, infrastructure repairs, and facility improvements across the District, with property owners paying average levies below $59 per $100,000 of assessed valuation while bonds are outstanding. The measure is expected to raise $57 million annually and makes the District eligible for state matching funds.

The bond measure targets specific infrastructure needs, including replacing leaky roofs and updating deteriorating electrical, plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning systems. It also provides funding for Career Education labs and STEAM classroom expansions.

Both measures include provisions for citizen oversight and regular audits to ensure transparency in spending. The funds cannot be diverted by the state for other purposes.

"I am ever so grateful to the voters. I believe the passage of both measures indicates the community's commitment to the success of the PUSD," said Board member Michelle Richardson Bailey.

Opponents claimed that the District has not been a good steward of money on past measures.

"I am pleased that we had an opportunity to dialogue with community members over the last few months about our District's strengths and needs and the solutions to meet those needs," PUSD Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco said in a statement.

Blanco said that regardless of the election's final outcome, the District remains committed to finding ways to protect its educational priorities and to make the most of every single dollar residents invest in their schools.

"Schools are protected and safe spaces for all children, regardless of their circumstances," Blanco said. "Our core values emphasize civility and respect, and we encourage empathy and respect in all interactions with each other."

Jennifer Hall Lee and Tina Fredericks were reelected to the School Board.

"I'm committed to continuing to work tirelessly on behalf of our students to ensure their futures are brighter than ever," Hall Lee said after her victory.