Phillips leads for 1st District supervisor in early returns
Representing an area spanning northeast Kern County, the race among three candidates for the Board of Supervisors 1st District seat is underway.
As of 8:09 p.m. Tuesday, with only results from early balloting reported, Phillip Peters is leading with 60% of the vote. The other two candidates in the race are David Fluhart, who early on had 25% of the vote and Mary Little, who had 14%.
If a single candidate for the 1st District seat does not win at least 50% of the vote, plus one, once all the votes are counted, the top two candidates will advance to a run-off in November.
Incumbent Peters is concluding his first term; he said serving has been an honor.
“I learned you have to be open-minded, really, about a lot of different issues and dig deep and really consult with experts in it because there’s such a wide variety of topics that you have to familiar with,” Peters said before the first results came in.
Peters said he is focused on issues including homelessness, protecting the oil and gas industry, attracting new businesses to the county and water issues in the 1st District. He said he is confident about his most recent campaign.
“I’ve been really proud of the stuff that my staff and I have been able to accomplish in the last few years,” Peters said. “And we’ve tried to run a good campaign and just stand on the issues and stand on our record and I hope the voters will decide to put their trust in me to let me serve one more term.”
Fluhart said he mainly takes care of his elderly mother and he is a cannabis grower. He said he does not think he is going to win and he would be lucky to make it to a runoff.
Fluhart said that Kern County needs to change its attitude toward serving the people.
“Kern County as an entity isn’t trying to work for its constituents,” Fluhart said.
Fluhart said he would also focus on keeping courtrooms open, ensuring hospitals get funding and moving local priority projects forward.
Little is a legal videographer and Social Security advocate. She said she is confident and at peace with her campaign.
“I did all I could to make voters aware of my run and why I want to run and I’ve had some good success and people have been very supportive and I’m happy,” Little said.
Following her own negative voting experience — she was not able to turn in her mail-in ballot at her local voting station and had to vote using a machine — Little said she is now concerned about voter integrity. In addition, Little is focused on homelessness issues, crime, the financial situation of Kern County and enforcing constitutional rights.
Little said improving customer relations is important to her. She said 1st District needs a leader with passion to tackle issues, especially in the unincorporated areas of the district.
“I want to hear what their concerns are,” Little said.