Holy Comeback! Measure L Is Winning!

Measure L, the $39-per-home parcel tax to raise $2.4 million for public schools, has 66.75 percent of the votes cast in San Leandro.

That puts it above the 66.66 percent margin needed for passage by a mere 47 votes.

Thursday's lead is the first time since the November 6 election that Measure L has cleared the two-thirds threshhold.

Supporters are ecstatic. 

"This is the best thing that could happen to this town," said Measure L campaign coordinator Deborah Cox. "I'm still in a state of shock."

For days her camp has been biting its nails as Measure L, which  started out several percentage points below passage on election night, slowly gained votes as the late ballots were counted.

As of Wednesday the measure was just shy of passage with 66.54 percent of the vote.

But on Thursday morning the registrar's office told School Superintendent Cindy Cathey that there were still 12,000 votes countywide left to tally and that these ballots should be accounted for by the end of the day.

So while Thursday's vote isn't certified -- and could still be subject to a recount if opponents are willing to pay for it -- supporters believe they have cleared the difficult two-thirds hurdle.

"If anyone ever tells you your vote doesn't count, this proves that it does," said San Leandro School Board member Mike Katz-Lacabe.

Mayor Stephen Cassidy said many people worked very hard to pass the tax.  

"I hope Measure L continues to stay in the lead," he said.

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