Local election results changing as ballots are counted
Although polling places for the 2018 General Election election season is at its close, ballots are still being counted. Official election results for Tulare County offices are set to be finalized by Dec. 7. As the registrar of voters continues to count votes, updates are published for the public to view, with the last update being published Thursday evening at 6:45 p.m.
A surprising turn of events has taken place in the current results for Porterville City Council. Cameron J. Hamilton, who took the lead after the closing of the polls, has been nudged out by Daniel Penaloza. Currently, Penaloza sits 26 votes above Hamilton for the City Council District 1 seat.
Jim Carson is in the lead for the Porterville Unified School District Governing Board Member seat by a whopping 77 percent. Carson ran against Rudy Ruiz, who received a quarter of the counted votes.
Burton Elementary School District had two seats up for potential Governing Board Members. In area 4, Daniel Figueroa has taken the lead over Shelbie Akin, with 57 percent of the votes in favor of Figueroa. In area 5, Vikki Cervantes is in a tight race with Andrew Chandler, as only 11 votes separate the two candidates. Cervantes holds 50 percent of the votes, while Chandler sits at 48 percent. Four write in votes make up the percentage difference between the two candidates.
Porterville’s local one-cent tax increase measure, known as Measure I, looks as if it is going to pass with 64 percent of the counted votes being in favor.
Lindsay’s City Council is facing a similar situation as Porterville, with two new members being voted in. Yolanda Flores and Rosaena Arevalo-sanchez have increased their leads over Esteban “Steve” Velasquez and Danny Salinas. Together, Flores and Arevalosanchez have received 58 percent of the counted votes.
Rick Loftin and Valerie Velasquez have a large lead in the race for Lindsay's Local Hospital District Director. Two seats are open on Lindsay's hospital board, and Loftin and Velasquez are on track to fill them.
Lindsay's local cannabis
measure, known as Meaure G, looks as if it will pass with nearly 70 percent of the counted votes being in favor of the measure.
Christina Lightner has received a landslide of votes, nudging Allaney Briggs out of the race for Strathmore's Public Utility District Director seat.
The Lower Tule River Irrigation District Director Division 5 seat is leaning towards Joshua S.
Pitigliano over John William Roeloffs, as Pitigliano is currently sitting with 60 percent of the votes.
Terra Bella's Irrigation District Director Divison 3 seat is favoring Edwin L. Wheaton, who currently has 75 percent of the votes. Wheaton's opponent, Ray Chrispens, has collected only 25 percent of the counted votes.
In a tight race for County Superintendent of
Schools, Tim Hire is leading over Craig Wheaton. Hire currently holds 51 percent of the counted votes, while Wheaton trails closely behind at 47 percent.
As elections come to a close, there are a few races to keep an eye out for. If these results stand, many new faces will be joining local boards and government.