One of the most contentious statewide ballot measures is still too close to call. Proposition 16 would require two-thirds voter approval to create or expand local public electricity service.
Yes on 16 spokeswoman Becky Warren says the campaign is still hopeful it’ll pull out a win.
“What we’re seeing right now is that a lot of voters do want to have a say when government wants to spend millions of their public dollars," said Warren. "And clearly, quite a few voters are voting in that direction. So we’re just optimistic on how the votes are looking right now.”
Sacramento Municipal Utility District board member Bill Slaton opposed Prop 16. He says the measure’s leading supporter, Pacific Gas and Electric, spent so much money that voters only heard one side of the story.
“And even at that, this election is very close. Which means people heard it, and then for a lot of people – and we’ll see if it’s a majority or not – they thought about it some more and said you know, this just doesn’t ring true,” said Slaton.
PG&E spent more than $45 million on Proposition 16. Opponents raised less than $100,000.
