Wednesday’s 5 p.m. election results showed incumbent Austin Lumbard led the Tustin mayoral race by about 51% over City Councilwoman Letitia Clark at 49% – a difference of 231 votes making it one of the closest contests in OC this year.
So far, 16,300 votes have been counted in the race.
Lumbard is backed by local public safety unions, the Republican Party of OC and a host of prominent local Republican elected officials.
Clark is endorsed by labor unions, the Democratic Party of OC and a host of prominent local Democratic elected officials.
There are over 44,700 registered voters in Tustin with roughly 40% registered as Democrats, 27% as Republicans and 26% with no party preference.
The OC Firefighters Association spent over $70,000 on mailers to support Lumbard’s campaign while the Tustin police union’s political action committee spent $7,500 to support the incumbent Mayor, as of Oct. 28.
Tustin Police Support union’s political action committee also spent $6,250 to support Lumbard, as of Oct. 26.
Clark didn’t see any independent expenditures to boost her campaign.
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org.
