Updated Nov. 3 at 9:20 p.m.
With 19 of 19 precincts reporting, 60.73 percent of San Marcos voters—or 1,814 total voters—have given their approval to Proposition 1, which could remove fluoride from the city's drinking water, and 55.2 percent of voters—or 1,565 total voters—have approved Proposition 2, which clarifies the rules for petitioning to have items added to the November ballot.
"We still have a lot of work to do," said Sam Brannon, one of the organizers of Communities For Thriving Water-Fluoride-Free San Marcos (CFTW). "I know the city manager, the City Council, they have heard the voice of the people. They want this harmful, toxic material out of our water."
Brannon said the group plans to challenge Proposition 2 in court, and he guaranteed a win. CFTW sees Proposition 2 as an unnecessary roadblock in the democratic process, their representatives have said.
All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Posted Nov. 3 at 7:27 p.m.
According to unofficial early voting results Nov. 3, 58.17 percent, or 904 San Marcos voters, have voted in favor of local Proposition 1, which could force the city to remove fluoride from its drinking water. In early voting, 58.01 percent, or 855 voters, have voted in favor of Proposition 2, related to the process for having items added to the ballot.
Sam Brannon, a representative of Communities for Thriving Water-Fluoride-Free San Marcos, or CFTW, the group responsible for placing the item on the ballot, said the vote represented a win for the city of San Marcos.
"I'm thrilled," Brannon said. "I was confident it would win. I'm glad people turned out. It's been a long road."
CFTW won a ruling against the city of San Marcos to have the item placed on the ballot, but the wording the city put on the ballot did not match the wording the group suggested. O’Connell said the group feels the city’s wording creates a loophole that would allow fluoridation to continue.
The city’s ballot language says: “The City of San Marcos shall not add, or direct or require its agents to add fluoride in the form of hydrofluorosilicic acid, hexafluorosilicic acid, or sodium silicofluoride to the San Marcos municipal water supply.”
CFTW originally suggested: “The City of San Marcos including its departments, agents, and contractors, shall not fluoridate the public water supply or accept any fluoridated water for use in the San Marcos water system. Fluoridation means the addition by the City or by any water supplier or provider of sodium fluoride, hydrofluorosilicic acid, hexafluorosilicic acid, sodium silicofluoride, or any other fluoride derivative to rainwater, groundwater or surface water.”
All results are unofficial until canvassed.