Three races remain undecided in Contra Costa County; update expected today

Three races in Contra Costa County are still undecided as election officials near the end of the count — and only three votes separate the candidates in one contest, with another currently tied.

In the Martinez City Council race for District 4, Debbie McKillop is leading John Stevens by a razorthin margin. McKillop has 50.03 percent of the vote, or 2,266 and Stevens is at 49.97 percent, or 2,263.

And, in Richmond, where voters were selecting three City Council members, the order flip-flopped from two weeks ago. Demnlus Johnson III remained the frontrunner with 12.12 percent, or 9,333 votes, followed by Eduardo Martinez, with 11.28 percent, or 8,690.

Former Mayor Nathaniel “Nat” Bates moved up to third place with 10.12 percent, or 7,796, and Vinay Pimple is now in fourth place with 10.10 percent, or 7,776.

The two candidates for the Byron Bethany Irrigation District Division 1 director is tied with 51 votes each — Milan “Pete” Petrovich and Larry Enos.

The race for three Diablo Community Services District directors also is close. Leonard Becker leads with 28.81 percent, or 350, followed by Jeffery Eorio, with 26.50 percent, or 322. Greg Isom is in third place with 22.63 percent, or 275, and Kelly Trevethan is in fourth place with 22.06 percent, or 268 — a difference of seven votes.

Contra Costa County will release an updated count by 5 p.m. today, according to Paul Burgarino, of the county clerk-recorder- elections department. Burgarino said about 5,800 ballots remain, and said today’s count would be the final update before the election is certified early next month.

In Alameda County, the most recent updated figures were filed Nov. 17. County spokesman Guy Ashley said there are a small number of ballots that remain to be counted, and he said the county planned to certify its results by Dec. 6.

The update in Alameda County showed a change in the race for two spots on the Piedmont school board. Megan Pillsbury was the leader with 31.71 percent, or 3,389, followed by incumbent Amal Smith, with 26.51 percent, or 2,833. Julie Caskey is in third place with 26.06 percent, or 2,785. Previously, Smith trailed Caskey.

Santa Clara County reported updated counts Wednesday, with 98 percent of the tally. Election officials said another update would be held by 5 p.m. today.

Not much had changed since the last update, with tight races remaining for the Morgan Hill District D race, the Mountain View City Council, where voters were choosing three candidates, and the East Side Union High School District race for three candidates.

In Morgan Hill, John McKay was the leader with 37.07 percent, or 1,678, followed by Julie Makrai Hutcheson with 36.10 percent, or 1,634.

In Mountain View, Ellen Kamei led with 19.01 percent, or 11,877, followed by Lucas Ramirez with 18.16 percent, or 11,345. Alison Hicks was in third place with 17.74 percent, or 11,085, and Pat Showalter was in fourth place, with 17.59 percent, or 10,991.

In the East Side Union High School District, Lorena Chavez was the frontrunner with 20.59 percent, or 55,825, followed by Van Thi Le with 15.07 percent, or 40,863. J. Manuel Herrera was in third place with 14.70 percent, or 39,846, and Frank Biehl was in fourth place with 14.46 percent, or 39,209.