Talamantes, Frutos projected to keep their seats on Burbank City Council
With all 29 precincts reporting Tuesday night, Burbank Mayor Jess Talamantes and Councilman Bob Frutos appear to have kept their seats on the City Council, while an incumbent and a nonprofit administrator may face off in a general election in April.
Some mail-in ballots are expected to continue to come into the City Clerk’s Office through Friday.
Talamantes, a retired firefighter, leads all eight candidates with 5,042 votes, or roughly 51.5%. Frutos, a retired police officer, was just behind his colleague, receiving 4,911 votes, or about 50.1%.
“I will continue to work hard and find solutions to the city’s problems,” Frutos said on election night.
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Frutos has centered his campaign around trying to balance the city budget, which is projected to be in a deficit over the next five years.
Talamantes said he is also focusing on the budget, as well as finding a way to address infrastructure needs and pension costs.
If a candidate receives 50% plus one of the votes, they automatically clinch a seat on the council.
That means current Councilman David Gordon, an optometrist, would defend his seat against two-time candidate Sharon Springer if the candidate order in Tuesday’s results continue into the final tally.
Gordon, who came in third, had 4,393 votes, or roughly 45%. Springer came in fourth receiving 3,490 votes, or about 35.6%.
“I thank all my supporters and my campaign manager Elaine Panoesa, and I look forward to the general election,” Springer said.
Gordon said he has been concerned about unnecessary development and a lack of affordable housing.
Springer, whose main issue is also the budget deficit, said she is looking to find ways to generate more revenue for the city.
Gordon and Talamantes could not be reached for comment.
Candidates Juan Guillen, Richard Carr, Gregory Sousa and Konstantine Anthony do not appear to have enough votes to advance to the general election.
Running unopposed, City Clerk Zizette Mullins and City Treasurer Debbie Kukta both won re-election in the primary.
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Anthony Clark Carpio, anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com
Twitter: @acocarpio
