Early Returns Show Tight Races in San Marcos and Vista Council Seats

The San Diego County Registrar of Voters released preliminary results at 8:05 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday, November 3. The data covers municipal elections in Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Marcos, Vista, and Escondido. In San Marcos, Deputy Mayor Mike Sannella holds a six vote advantage over former Councilwoman Sharon Jenkins. The two candidates are competing to succeed Mayor Rebecca Jones, who is running for county supervisor. Sannella has received 9,757 votes, while Jenkins has 9,691.

In Vista, the race for the District 1 City Council seat is equally close. Incumbent Councilwoman Corinna Contreras leads challenger Frank Nunez by 39 votes. Contreras has 995 votes compared to Nunez’s 956. A third candidate, Yolanda Kenniston Alvarez, trails with 170 votes. The mayor’s race in Vista is citywide, with Joe Green leading Kenneth Zuniga. Green has 8,622 votes against Zuniga’s 7,900.

Carlsbad voters cast ballots for a mayor and two district council seats. Mayor Keith Blackburn leads the four-person mayoral field. He has 23,982 votes, or 73.20 percent of the total. Eric Nixon is the closest challenger with 5,093 votes. In District 1, Councilwoman Melanie Burkholder leads Nate Larson. Burkholder has 4,135 votes to Larson’s 3,090. In District 3, Councilwoman Priya Bhat-Patel holds a wide lead over Wayland T. Lim. Bhat-Patel has 5,457 votes while Lim has 2,265.

Oceanside held elections for two council districts, with no mayoral race on the ballot. In District 1, Councilman Eric Joyce leads Michael Cline. Joyce has 4,686 votes compared to Cline’s 3,115. District 2 features five candidates. Councilman Richard Robinson holds the lead with 3,436 votes. Emily Gonzales is second with 2,682 votes. Three other candidates follow with smaller totals.

Escondido voters chose a mayor and two council representatives. Mayor Dane M. White leads nonprofit executive Elias Velazquez in the citywide race. White has 13,578 votes while Velazquez has 11,510. In the council races, outcomes vary by district. In District 1, Vanessa Valenzuela leads Tanner Horsley. Valenzuela has 2,163 votes to Horsley’s 1,344. In District 2, Anthony DiMartino leads Councilman Joe Garcia. DiMartino has 4,477 votes against Garcia’s 4,256.

The preliminary figures reflect votes counted as of the early evening release. Final certification of the results will follow after all precincts report. The contests in San Marcos and Vista remain the closest in the region based on the current margins.