OC Political

There are seven races in Orange County where less than 0.5% separates two candidates for the last spot in office. Countywide, there are 73,719 ballots remaining to be counted (9,371 absentee ballots, 64,217 provisional ballots, and 131 Election Day paper ballots).  In all seven of these races, fewer than 500 votes separate the last winner and the first runner-up.  These range from the 442-vote margin for the Santa Ana Unified School Board to the 4-vote margin (yes, just four votes) for Fullerton City Council.

In the Santa Ana Unified School Board race, incumbent Jose Alfredo Hernandez (D) is hanging on to a 442-vote (0.5%) lead over challenger Valerie Amezcua (D).  In an unusual situation for Santa Ana, two Democrats are fighting for the third place spot and the board’s last seat while Republicans occupy the top two slots, with challenger Ceci Iglesias ahead of incumbent Rob Richardson.

In the Mission Viejo City Council race, Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht (R) is clinging on to a 270-vote (0.4%) lead over challenger Wendy Bucknum (R).  Bucknum ran on a slate with Councilman Frank Ury (R) while Schlict ran on a slate with Ed Sachs (R).  If Schlicht hangs on, the voters will have split the baby by picking the incumbent from each slate leaving the status quo in place with a Council majority of Trish Kelley (R), Dave Leckness (R), and Ury versus a Council minority of Rhonda Reardon (R) and Schlicht.  If Bucknum overtakes Schlicht, then the Council majority will grow to 4 members.

In the Westminster City Council race, challenger Diana Carey (D) has seen her lead over incumbent Councilman Tyler Diep (R) dwindle to 200 votes (0.4%).  In 2008, Diep was behind Penny Loomer (D) by 1,500 votes on Election Night and ended up winning the election by edging out Loomer by 49 votes.  On Election Night 2012, Diep was behind Carey by 709 votes.  Can Diep pull off the late surge again?

In the Huntington Beach City Council race, former Councilman Dave Sullivan (R) wields a 264-vote (0.1%) lead over Barbara Delgleize (R).  Regardless of whether Sullivan or Delgleize wins, the conservative majority has already been reduced to a minority with the election of Jill Hardy (D) and Jim Katapodis (R).

In the Costa Mesa City Council race, Councilman Gary Monahan (R) has a 131-vote (0.1%) lead over challenger John Stephens (D).  At stake is the conservative Council majority, with Jim Righeimer (R), Steve Mensinger (R), and Monahan.  If Monahan holds on, the 4-1 Council majority will shrink to 3-2, as former Councilwoman Sandy Genis (R) captured the seat of termed-out conservative Councilman Eric Bever (R).  If Stephens overtakes Monahan, the conservative Council majority will become the minority.

In the Yorba Linda City Council race, challenger Gene Hernandez (R) has a 114-vote (0.1%) lead over incumbent Councilwoman Nancy Rikel (R).  At stake is the Council majority.  If Rikel can overtake Hernandez, the YLRRR majority of Mark Schwing (R), John Anderson (R), and Rikel will maintain control of the Council.  If Hernandez hangs on, the majority of Tom Lindsey (R), Craig Young (R), and Hernandez would push YLRRR into the minority, with Schwing and Anderson.

In the Fullerton City Council race, former Councilwoman Jan Flory (D) has a 4-vote lead over incumbent Councilman Travis Kiger (R). If Flory wins, the Fullerton City Council will have two liberal Democrats (Doug Chaffee and Flory), two libertarian-leaning conservative Republicans (Bruce Whitaker and Greg Sebourn), and one more traditional conservative Republican (Jennifer Fitzgerald).  If Kiger can overtake Flory’s 4-vote lead, he would cement the results of the June recall and maintain Orange County’s most libertarian council.