Count of 124 Ballots Will Decide Winner of 2nd Seat

City and county officials will count ballots on Friday to determine the winner of the city’s second council seat.

Incumbent Dennis Washburn won reelection Tuesday, but for the second open seat, Janice Lee led Daniel S. Glaser by only 17 votes.

On Friday, city officials will count 100 absentee and 24 provisional ballots to determine the winner, City Clerk Robin Parker said. The Los Angeles County registrar-recorder will help verify ballot signatures.

“We don’t want to rush this,” Parker said. “We want to make sure everything is processed properly and in accordance with the election code.”

On March 16, the counted votes will be submitted to the City Council, which will confirm the results and make them official, Parker said.

Both Lee and Glaser said they expected a tight race.

“This is democracy at its very best,” Lee said. “Whatever happens in the final count, this is something we’re all going to be proud of.”

Glaser said he was optimistic about his chances.

“If we win, fantastic, I’ll be a council member. If I lose, I did something I’m very proud of,” he said.

Washburn, who led with 35% of the voting, said he was pleased to be returned to office.

“I don’t do this because I’m getting paid for it,” Washburn said. “I love building networks of people to build things.”

Despite losing, Helene Regen said she intended to remain involved in city politics.

“I believe I ran a clean race and I will continue to do what I have to do for the city. There are still issues that have to be addressed,” she said.