Preliminary primary balloting results

District 1 Supervisor race likely a runoff

Editor's note: The information in this article is based on preliminary, unofficial election results from county and state elections offices, and is subject to change.

LAKE COUNTY >> Three county supervisor seats were up in the air heading into the California presidential primary Tuesday, but judging by preliminary results, starting with District 1, John Hess received 35.14 percent and Helen Owen, 34.98 percent; others were far back.

That result will in all likelihood force a November run-off between the top two vote getters Hess and Owen.

At press time, all of these tallies represented fewer than 20 percent of all the registered voters, as well as with all other contested offices. Reached later in the evening Owen noted even though Pritchard endorsed her, his name remained on the ballot because it was too late to remove since they had already been printed.

Owen noted she was excited because she had a late start campaigning since she cared for her brother, Charlie Stepson, who was ill with brain cancer since last Father's Day weekend, when she moved him into her home to care for him. He passed away on January 8, and then her campaign really accelerated.

“If you add Pritchard's total to mine, I'm looking like a potential lead, so I'm excited,” she said. In other results, District 4, Police Chief Brad Rasmussen led with 58%, as Laura McAndrews Sammel, was next at 21%. Police Chief Rasmussen pledged one of his priorities was cleaning up Clear Lake the county's crown jewel along with Middle Creek restoration project linked to the health of Clear Lake.

Rasmussen noted along with preparation for emergency disaster management, economic development as well as transparency and accountability of county government were the big issues. “Economic development includes housing and homelessness and mental illness,” he said.

“We face dangers from years ago of the overprescription of opioids; especially, fentanyl because it's said to be 25 to 50 times stronger than heroin.” But, because of the successful government lawsuit with pharmaceutical manufacturers the county (city and state) can expect various pots of funding the next 20 years. And he stressed importance of broadband expansion. “We got some areas where service is not good,” said. “We've had improvement but need to continue on that track.”

In District 5, incumbent Supervisor Jessica Pyska led with 57% while Daniel Boone had 43%. “This is a really special community and I know it means a lot to all of us and to all of you to keep the positive progress going,” she said at an election result watching event at Kelseyville's A+H General store in Kelseyville. “I feel very confident and very positive about these results. Being surrounded by my family, friends and all my supporters has made this such a special night, I am so grateful for all of your support all of you guys have been amazing.”

Incumbent Lake County Superior Court department 4, presiding Judge Shanda Harry led with 76% over child protective services attorney Anna Gregorian at 24%. Gregorian pointed out during the 1990s she fought for restorative justice programs and mental health diversions. “I'm an independent, people need to support independent programs,” she said. She added one reason state government is facing a deficit is partly because of overspending on such things as traditional criminal justice rather than favoring more efficient diversionary program. With less than 30 percent of precincts counted, she was still trailing the incumbent.

California District 4 Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, running unopposed won 100% of the voted. Meanwhile, For U.S. House 4th district, Representative Mike Thompson led with 56 % over John Munn with 40 %. Lake County Sheriff/Coroner Luke Bingham also unopposed won 100 percent of the votes. The full preliminary election results can be viewed on the County of Lake's website, http:// www.lakecountyca.gov/ Government/Directory/ ROV/results.htm