CAMPAIGN 2014: Measure J passes in San Benito County

San Benito County’s ban on fracking moved forward Tuesday night with 57 percent of the vote.

Measure J opposition garnered 43 percent of the vote.

NewsChannel 5 reporter Marissa Schwarz was live with folks on both sides of the debate in Hollister on Election Night as the numbers continued to pour in.

“This is a testament to the power of ordinary people when they decide to determine their own future,” said Andy Hsia-Coron, one of the leaders of the Coalition to Protect San Benito. “Millions were spent to confuse the people of our county and it didn’t work. Now we can export hope to communities far and wide who believe that the people not outside corporations should be in charge.”

San Benito County was one of three coastal counties in California with anti-fracking measures on the ballot for the 2014 midterm election.

Voters in Mendocino County also passed a fracking ban, while voters in Santa Barbara County said “No” to a prohibition on fracking and other more commonly used means of forcing oil out of aging fields.

Fracking is short for hydraulic fracturing, and involves forcing liquids and chemicals into underground formations at high pressure to extract oil and gas. California is the country’s third-largest oil producer. Other places in the state and country have also enacted fracking bans.