First published in the Nov. 10 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
Election Day came and went on Tuesday and results from a number of highly contested offices remain too close to call, and the same can be said about the local race for the Governing Board of the La Cañada Unified School District.
In addition to local and state offices and measures, La Cañada Flintridge residents voted to determine which three of four candidates sit on the school board. As of early Wednesday morning, incumbents Joe Radabaugh and Dan Jeffries, currently the board president, seem to be on their way toward securing reelection. Radabaugh, who is serving as the vice president of the school board, leads all four candidates with 2,745 votes (28.77% of the votes) and Jeffries is second with 2,573 (26.97%).
Octavia Thuss and Debra Barsom are neck and neck for the third and final seat on the Governing Board with the former having a slight advantage by only 23 votes with 2,123.
Similar to the City Council race in June, the LCUSD school board election is too close to call one day after the election deadline. With the likelihood of thousands of ballots still to be counted, it may take the full three weeks for the dust to settle, and a victor be named between Thuss and Barsom. Last summer’s race for one of two seats on the City Council wasn’t determined until two weeks after Election Day.
Los Angeles County, which has more than 9.8 million residents, reported a semifinal result of 1,318,093 ballots processed and counted with 23.42% of registered voters casting ballots. Early election results were posted throughout the evening into the early morning, but another update won’t be provided until Friday. County officials will continue to provide General Election updates on Tuesdays and Fridays through Dec. 5.
According to the county, the initial results include ballots submitted by mail prior to Nov. 8, followed by those cast at a vote center between Oct. 29 and Nov. 7.
Though LCF voters did not have a say in the matter, the much-publicized contest between businessman Rick Caruso and U.S. Rep. Karen Bass for mayor of Los Angeles was also a close race with the former pulling ahead Wednesday. Caruso so far has 51.25% of the vote and Bass trails with 48.75%.
Though many votes are left to be counted in the midterm elections, the Associated Press named Gavin Newsom the winner of a second term as California governor with ease Tuesday night.
Another early victory was for Alex Padilla, who became the first Latino to be elected to U.S. Senate, after being appointed to the role to replace former Sen. Kamala Harris, who was elected vice president two years ago.
California voters also approved Proposition 1, a measure that guarantees abortion rights in the state’s constitution.
Democrat Judy Chu is on her way to securing a win as the U.S. Representative in the 28th District, which includes La Cañada Flintridge, with 65.75% of the votes so far against Republican Wes Hallman.
Chris Holden holds a commanding lead over Republican Michael McMahon for member of the state assembly in the 41st district, with the Democrat accumulating 62.66% of the votes so far.
In the race for L.A. County Sheriff, Robert Luna has a significant early lead over incumbent Alex Villanueva with 56.78% of votes.
For more information and updates about the election, visit lavote.gov.
