Only 15 votes separate 2 candidates running for Paso Robles City Council. See latest results
Incumbent Steve Gregory took an early lead while incumbent Sharon Roden and challenger Kris Beal were neck and neck in a dramatic race for two contested seats on the Paso Robles City Council on Tuesday night.
Three candidates are running for a two-year term in District 1, while three other candidates are running for a four-year term in District 3. Incumbent Fred Strong ran unopposed in District 4.
Paso Robles was embroiled in controversy this election cycle when city manager Ty Lewis filed a $2.2 million claim against the city, alleging that City Councilmember Chris Bausch created a hostile work environment by spreading professional and personal rumors about him.
The claim alleged that City Council candidates Linda “Pinky” George and Michael Rivera worked with Bausch to discredit Lewis, which both candidates denied.
According to the final Election Night ballot count release at 12:20 a.m. Wednesday, Beal maintained the narrowest of leads over incumbent Roden, while George trailed well behind in the District 1 race.
Beal had 41.9% of the vote, while Roden followed with 41% and George trailed a distant third with 16.1%.
As of the final Election Night update, Beal and Roden were separated by only 15 votes.
“We are so excited about the campaign that we’ve run in this community. It was a lovely, grassroots effort,” Beal said early Tuesday night. “Whatever happens tonight, we are very excited about the response that we got from people at the doors and about the community effort that we’ve helped put together.”
If elected, Beal will prioritize housing, jobs and creating spaces for the city’s youth, she said.
“My whole conversation this whole time has been to elevate the needs of working families and the next generation, to make sure that they have a voice on the council,” she said.
Roden told The Tribune she was feeling content with her campaign and her time serving on the council and knows she did everything she could do. She said door-knocking and speaking with voters about what mattered to them was “heartwarming” and her favorite part of her campaign.
Serving on the council has been a great challenge, Roden said, and if elected she hoped to continue to serve Paso Roblans, seek growth and fix roads.
“I’m excited, but whatever is, is. I’ve done my part and I’m content,” she said.
Meanwhile, Gregory led the District 3 race with 43.9% of the vote. Michael Rivera followed with 34.7% and Jeff Carr was running third with 21.3%, the 12:20 a.m. ballot count release said.
On Thursday, Rivera told the Tribune he is still waiting for every ballot to be counted and has not conceded.
“We live in a government where everybody’s voice needs to be heard and we need to make sure that we are not jumping the gun and calling out things that aren’t necessarily correct until we know we know for sure,” Rivera said.
Both George and Rivera spoke at the Paso Robles City Council meeting during public comment Tuesday night.
George thanked the voters for their support and said running for public office has been a “great experience,” while adding that she was “stunned” by alleged rumors spread about her on social media.
“Win or lose tonight, I’m going to be here,” George told the council during public comment. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Rivera used his comments to the council to deny that there is a conspiracy to oust Lewis.
“For some of you to suggest that I’m involved in some conspiracy, that is what disappoints me,” Rivera said. He said he found it “disgraceful and disgusting” that councilmembers tried to smear him during the campaign.
Meanwhile, incumbent Fred Strong, who ran unopposed for his seat, told The Tribune he looks forward to his next term.
“There’s a lot to do and I try to do my darnedest,” he said.
As of midnight, he had 99.6% of the vote — losing four votes to unresolved write-in candidates.
As of the final Election Night count, 54.5% of voters supported Paso Robles’ Measure I-24, while 44.7% of voters opposed it.
The ballot measure, which needs a simple majority to win, aimed to indefinitely extend the existing voter-approved half-cent sales tax, generating $5.5 million annually for general government use including maintaining and improving city infrastructure and services.
In a statement Wednesday, Paso Robles Mayor John Hamon said the ballot measure appeared to pass as of 11 a.m.
“This a significant achievement for our community, reflecting a strong commitment to maintaining our roads without much help from our state gas tax funds,” Hamon said, adding the City Council will use an equal amount of revenue generated to maintain streets and report to the tax oversight committee.
“Measure I-24 literally paves the way for a more vibrant and sustainable future for our city with significant help of our visitors’ sales tax money being spent in our town. It showcases the community’s dedication to a higher quality of life, ensuring that Paso Robles remains a desirable place to live, work and visit,” he wrote.
The final Election Night ballot drop included 7,107 mail-in ballots received up to the weekend before Election Day and 956 poll ballots.
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 8:24 PM.
