Neighborhood Annexation Vote Produces a Puzzling 15-15 Tie

In yet another political surprise in this week’s wild and wacky election, a measure calling for the annexation of a neighborhood east of Orange appears to have ended in 15-15 tie.

It is possible that the outcome could change when all the absentee ballots are counted later in the week. But if not, the vote probably dooms the effort known as Measure Q to add the 13-acre unincorporated neighborhood into Orange and would be the first tie that city officials can remember.

Absentee ballots were mailed out to the 90 registered voters in the neighborhood, which contains 48 single-family houses and is located north of Fairhaven Avenue between Yorba and Prospect streets.

As of the vote count Wednesday, Measure Q received 15 yes votes and 15 no votes.

Orange planning officials expressed surprise over the split vote but said they thought the remaining uncounted ballots would produce a tie-breaker.

It was unclear what would happen if the tie stands. State government codes don’t address such a situation, although the law states that annexation should be terminated if residents don’t approve it, said Jim Colangelo, executive officer of the Local Agency Formation Commission.

A group of residents in the neighborhood, which is surrounded on three sides by Orange, petitioned to place the annexation measure on the ballot, believing that joining the city would bring better and less expensive municipal services such as garbage pickup and police patrols, said Mary Ann Chamberlain, Orange’s annexation coordinator.

Several chunks of county land have been annexed by Orange in recent years over the objection of some residents who prefer living outside the city limits.

Though no one has checked all local records, some city officials and longtime residents believe that if the tie is sustained, it would be the first in Orange’s history.