The chances of having a new face on Santa Monica City Council are dropping along with the percentage of votes for candidate and planning commissioner, Ted Winterer, as of Friday.
This is the first time that Incumbent Bob Holbrook has gained in his lead against Winterer. The gap widens between the candidates from a mere 43 votes, yet numbers still remain at barley a 1 percent difference.
Holbrook still remains ahead of his challenger at third place for a full-term seat with 17.05 percent of votes and 61 votes ahead. Winterer holds 16.97 percent dropping from the previous tally. Holbrook holds 12,696 votes and Winterer has 12,635.
Final numbers are still not released and the county has not released the number for remaining ballots, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s office. Yet another tally is expected on Tuesday, Nov. 23 and a final announcement on Nov. 30.
The winner will join incumbents Kevin McKeown, Pam O’Connor, Gleam Davis, and Terry O’Day as winners in this year’s election. The group as a whole will form the next Santa Monica City Council with Mayor Bobby Shriver and Council member Richard Bloom whose seats were not up for re-election this year.