Theme Complex in Temecula Hinges on 330 Absentee Votes

Results of an election on whether Broadway producer Zef Buffman will be allowed to build a $60-million, nostalgia-themed entertainment complex in this city’s Old Town district will not be known until March 17.

The outcome of Tuesday’s election hangs on 330 absentee and provisional ballots, according to the Riverside County registrar’s office.

Among nearly 8,000 ballots cast Tuesday, opposition to the project was leading support for it by 18 votes.

Proponents of Buffman’s “Old Town Entertainment Center” said it would generate thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tourism revenue for the city, while opponents argued that it would spoil the city’s sleepy ambience and contribute to traffic and crime problems.

Buffman said Wednesday that he was counting on victory despite the initial vote count because previously counted absentee ballots favored his project by a 60-40 margin. “But talk about high drama,” he said with a sigh.