Cervantes, Conder grab big early leads
If their margins hold, no runoff will be needed
Clarissa Cervantes took a commanding early lead in the six-way race to determine who will succeed Riverside City Councilman Andy Melendrez, who decided not to seek a fifth term from Ward 2.
In Riverside’s Ward 4, incumbent Councilman Chuck Conder grabbed a lead over pastor and attorney Monrow Mabon.
If their leads hold, Cervantes and Conder would win seats outright without going to November runoffs. Candidates need more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff.
Cervantes grabbed 52.9% of the 4,080 votes cast through Monday in the all-mail ballot election that concluded Tuesday.
Joe Paredes had the secondmost votes in the Ward 2 race as of Tuesday night, or 25.6% of the total, according to the Riverside County Registrar of Voters.
Other totals were: Aram Ayra, 11.6%; Anthony Tyson, 6.5%; Jose “Tony” Huerta, 2.4%; Austin D. Skipper, just under 1%.
The half dozen candidates were trying to become the next councilmember to represent Canyon Crest, Eastside, Sycamore Canyon
and UC Riverside.
In the two-person Ward 4 race, Conder was named on nearly 56.2% of the 5,569 ballots cast in the Ward 4 race. Mabon received about 43.8% of the votes.
Councilmember Jim Perry ran unopposed in Ward 6.
Both Ward 4 candidates said one of their top concerns is homelessness.
Mabon said the city must target root causes of homelessness, meeting people’s medical and mental health needs and providing them work. Conder called homelessness a regional issue and said he’d insist surrounding cities work closer with Riverside to address it.
Conder said he worries the city may be headed for bankruptcy and he would press colleagues to spend more frugally. Mabon, a former Los Angeles police officer, said that while Riverside has improved policecommunity relations since the 1998 shooting death by city police of Tyisha Miller, he would push for more changes and an end to a “combative, warrior mentality” on the part of some.
Each of the Ward 2 candidates also said homelessness was a paramount issue.
In addition, Ayra said he’d propose “hero pay” bonuses for grocery workers employed by large chains, while excluding small mom-and-pop markets. Cervantes said she’d focus on helping small businesses rebuild from the devastating pandemic shutdowns. Huerta vowed to provide more programs and opportunities for Riverside youth.
Paredes said he would revitalize the University Avenue business corridor. Skipper said he’d pursue police reform and work to make the Riverside Police Department more reflective of the city’s diversity. Tyson said he’d work to boost the city’s housing supply and make homes more affordable.
Riverside County spokesperson Brooke Federico said the county Registrar of Voters would release one round of election results on Tuesday night, shortly after 8 p.m., covering ballots received through Monday.
The registrar’s office anticipates releasing an election update at 6 p.m. Thursday, adding results from mail ballots dropped off on Election Day.
On June 16 at 6 p.m., the registrar plans to update results with ballots that were mailed on election day and received within three days.
The registrar sent 69,650 ballots for the Riverside City Council elections.