Initial Election Night results for the Santa Ana Mayoral race showed Valerie Amezcua was in the lead with about 46% of the vote ahead of Dan Shimell at about 40% of the vote, as of 1:36 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Dwayne Shipp trailed behind in third with about 14% of the vote. There were over 40,900 votes counted so far in the race.
In Ward 2, Ben Vazquez was in the lead with about 72% of the votes ahead of opponent Selica Diaz, who had about 28% of the vote. There were over 5,000 votes counted so far in the race.
In Ward 4, Sandra De Anda was in the lead with about 53% of the votes ahead of opponent – and current Councilman – Phil Bacerra who had about 47% of the vote – a difference of 533 votes. There were over 7,700 votes counted so far in the race.
In Ward 6, Isuri Ramos was in the lead with about 53% of the votes ahead of opponent Giovanni Chavez who had about 47% of the vote – a difference of 379 votes. There were over 5,400 votes counted so far in the race.
There were still over 246,500 ballots to process throughout OC Wednesday morning.
The votes are being counted as city officials struggle with a structural budget deficit.
Tuesday’s election also comes amid recent scrutiny of city hall – including city officials refusing to answer questions about why they held a ribbon cutting for a new aquatic center featuring the entire city council weeks before the election when the pools were not fully open.
At the same time, there have been demands for police accountability over the viral violent arrest of resident Florentino Lopez and scrutiny over police arresting two immigrant advocates that were observing ICE agents last month, after the federal officers called for help.
Meanwhile, the Santa Ana police union spent over $240,000 on mailers and ads supporting a host of candidates in local city council races and spent about $33,000 on ads and mailers opposing two council candidates, as of Oct. 24.
The union has spent over $103,000 on things like mailers to support Amezcua’s reelection campaign, as of Oct 22.
They also have spent over $61,000 to support Chavez’s campaign in Ward 6, over $38,000 on Bacerra’s reelection campaign in Ward 4 and over $38,000 to support Diaz’s campaign in Ward 2, as of Oct. 24.
The police union also spent over $13,000 on digital ads and mailers opposing Vazquez’s reelection campaign and nearly $20,000 opposing Ramos’ campaign in Ward 6, as of Oct. 24.
The California Association of Realtors Political Action Committee has also spent over $130,000 on things like telephone calls to oppose Vazquez’s reelection campaign, as of Oct. 24.
OC Action, a coalition of progressive groups, spent over $16,000 to support De Anda’s campaign and over $6,200 to support Ramos’ campaign, as of Oct. 24.
The OC Firefighters union has spent over $106,000 to support Amezcua’s reelection campaign, over $36,000 to support Bacerra, over $16,000 to support Diaz and $15,000 on campaign mailers to support Chavez, as of Oct. 23.
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org.
