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Ali Taj visits with Hews Media Group-Community Newspaper recently to talk about his campaign. Randy Economy Photo
By Brian Hews
This is Breaking News!
Artesia voters have elected political newcomer Ali Taj to the citty council in a stunning election that will be remembered for years to come.
Taj defeated iconic City Councilman John Lyon by less than 1/2 of a percentage point in Tuesday’s voting. Voters in Artesia also reelected incumbents Sally Flowers and Victor Manalo.
Taj told Hews Media Group-Community Newspaper in a phone interview after his victory that the “Artesia community wants an independent voice on the city council.”
Here are the Unofficial Results in Artesia
ARTESIA CITY GEN MUNI COUNCILMEMBER VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN 3 SALLY FLOWERS 713 21.65 VICTOR MANALO 630 19.13 ALI S TAJ 612 18.58 JOHN P LYON 594 18.04 MELISSA RAMOSO 456 13.85 MANU PATEL 288 8.75 TOTAL PRECINCTS 3 PRECINCTS REPORTING 3 100.00 REGISTRATION 7,420
Just as a point of caution, I understand that there may be more than 200 uncounted provisional and absentee ballots, plus any additional absentee ballots that may have been sent out at the last minute last night.
It’s still technically too close to call an election.
Thanks Andrew…
Randy
Congratulations Ali Taj!