Most recent count shows Walker, Eich, Gunter leading council race, Measure LC nears 70%
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While voting officials report more than half a million votes remain to be counted leading up to certification of the March 3 election, the results of two La Cañada contests became clearer Tuesday after county officials released updated ballot counts.
In the race for three open seats on the La Cañada Flintridge City Council, incumbent candidate Terry Walker led the pack Tuesday with 4,081 ballots, or 32.8% of the vote.
Challenger Public Works and Traffic Commissioner Keith Eich remained closely behind with 3,363 votes, slightly more than 27% of total ballots cast, according to the county Registrar Recorder/County Clerk.
Former Planning Commissioner Rick Gunter trailed behind, receiving more than 20.7% of the vote total with 2,580 ballots cast in his favor.
If the trend continues Gunter will take the third open council seat over Mayor Len Pieroni, who received 2,418 votes, more than 19.4%, after suspending campaign efforts in the wake of a health scare.
Anticipating his fourth-place status would remain unchanged, Pieroni on Tuesday congratulated the other candidates in a statement to the Valley Sun.
“La Cañada Flintridge is a special place, and I have faith that the new city council will continue to do what is best for our community,” he said. “I’d also like to say that I appreciate the encouragement, kind words and prayers I’ve received from the community during my recovery.”
L.A. County Registrar/Recorder spokesman Mike Sanchez said officials anticipate releasing final figures after canvassing wraps up March 27, days ahead of an April 2 canvassing deadline. Until then, updates will be made public at lavote.net each Tuesday and Friday after 5 p.m.
“Figures are subject to change throughout canvassing,” Sanchez said Tuesday. “There are over 600,000 ballots we estimate are outstanding to be counted.”
Tuesday’s update showed increased local support for Measure LC, La Cañada Unified School District’s attempt to indefinitely increase a $450-per-parcel tax (with annual inflation increases built in) for school programs and personnel.
While initial tallies showed Measure LC winning with 69.33% of the vote, new figures show the measure having so far secured 69.69% of voter approval, above the two-thirds required for passage. County records indicated 3,783 district residents voted in favor of the extension, while 1,645 voted against it.
LCUSD Board President Joe Radabaugh thanked an “army of dedicated and capable volunteers” who campaigned for Measure LC.
“Outcomes like this don’t happen unless a well-coordinated effort is put into motion months ahead of time,” Radabaugh said. “It’s truly amazing to see how hard people work for their schools and how good they are as a team.”
