SANTA CRUZ — Initial vote counts for the two conflicting affordable housing tax measures, Measure B and Measure C, were posted by the Santa Cruz County Clerk on Tuesday night with Measure C holding a majority in the early vote while Measure B trailed by a large margin.

As of about 10 p.m. Tuesday, Measure C, backed by Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley and Housing Santa Cruz County Executive Director Elaine Johnson, had 8,274 votes counted in favor of the initiative or about 50.6% of the total and 8,078 or 49.4% voting against the measure, which needs a simple majority to pass.

Measure B, which is supported by the Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors, appears unlikely to pass with 1,826 votes in favor or about 11% and 14,372 or about 89% of voters opposing the measure.

Before the first n

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