Tally shows two incumbents losing bid
Fergusson trails in Menlo Park, Evans in East Palo Alto
With only 15,000 to 20,000 ballots left to tally in San Mateo County and no swing in election results evident, two area council members are seeing their slim hopes of retaining their seats evaporate.
In Menlo Park, challenger Catherine Carlton appears to have knocked out incumbent Kelly Fergusson for one of two seats on the five- member council. The latest count shows them 236 votes apart — 5,296 for Carlton to 5,060 for Fergusson. Another challenger, Ray Mueller, received the most votes — 5,627 — according to the latest results.
Although Fergusson called both candidates the day after the Nov. 6 election to congratulate them, she said in an email sent out to supporters on about her apparent victory.
“I’m very much looking forward to getting on the council,” Carlton said.
In East Palo Alto, with three seats on the ballot, Mayor Laura Martinez and challenger Larry Moody were the top two vote winners. For the votes are from provisional ballots so some might not qualify, said David Tom, the county’s elections manager. About 20 percent are mail ballots dropped off at the polls on Election Day.
County election offices are required by the state to certify results by Dec. 4, but offi cials are shooting for a final tally by Nov. 21.