Early count leaves California race open
Claudia Jiménez held an early lead over Ahmad Anderson in the mayoral runoff in Richmond, Calif., according to the first results released Tuesday night by the Contra Costa County Elections Division. The contest remained unresolved, however, with the initial count covering mail ballots received before election day and early in-person voting, while election-day precincts had not yet reported.
Jiménez, who represents District 6 on Richmond’s city council, had received 8,606 votes, or 52.2 per cent, compared with Anderson’s 7,878 votes. The initial difference was 728 votes. The count represented about 29 per cent of the city’s 59,820 registered voters, and additional ballots were expected to be added overnight and over the following days.
The two candidates advanced from a June primary in which Mayor Eduardo Martinez finished third. If Jiménez ultimately wins the runoff, Richmond’s council would be responsible for appointing a person to serve the remainder of her District 6 term. That possible vacancy adds a second piece of municipal decision-making to an election whose final result had not been determined by the first release.
| Race or measure | Early result | Requirement or status |
|---|---|---|
| Mayoral runoff | Jiménez 52.2%; Anderson 47.8% | More ballots outstanding |
| Measure Q fire bond | 68.4% yes | Two-thirds required |
| Measure V school parcel tax | 72.6% yes | Two-thirds required |
Fire bond sits above two-thirds threshold
Voters were also considering Measure Q, a $120-million bond intended to repair and rebuild Richmond fire stations and firefighter housing. The measure had 68.4 per cent support in the early returns, placing it less than two percentage points above the approximately 66.7 per cent needed for approval.
The measure’s margin was therefore preliminary rather than decisive. County ballot materials estimated that the bond would cost property owners an average of $22.15 per $100,000 of assessed value each year. The city has also identified a Chevron settlement as a backup option for station upgrades if the bond does not pass, according to the report.
- Measure Q proposes funding for fire station repairs and reconstruction.
- The bond also includes firefighter housing.
- Its early support was above, but close to, the required two-thirds mark.
School tax renewal also leads
Measure V, a proposed renewal of the West Contra Costa Unified School District parcel tax, had 72.6 per cent support across the district in the initial count. Like the fire bond, it also requires two-thirds approval. The early result was higher than the level recorded in a July poll, which had shown the renewal below the required threshold.
All figures remain unofficial until the county completes its counting process and certifies the results. For readers in Richmond, B.C., the jurisdiction is important: these results apply to Richmond, California, and to the Contra Costa County election system, not to municipal or regional government in British Columbia. The source material does not report any election, bond or school-tax result involving Richmond, B.C.
