By Brian Hews
With 99.92% of the vote counted, as usual there are candidates who cruised to a win and others who are stunned.
Long-time Cerritos College Trustee Robert “Bob” Arthur lost in a squeaker to challenger Martha Camacho-Rodriguez.
Incumbent Trustee Carmen Avalos cruised to a victory beating Tammy Ashton 7,238-2,535, 61%-21%.
Also incumbent Trustee Sandra Salazar beat Rosa Barragan 5,636-2,015, and Marisa Perez beat Ken Glenn 9,019-3,440.
In La Palma, Gerard Goedhart tallied 3,033 votes, Peter Kim garnered 2,934 votes, and Marshall Goodman clocked in at 2,474 votes.
La Palma’s one cent sales tax Measure JJ passed by a margin of 959 votes, 2,730 to 1,771.
In Downey, Blanca Pacheco beat Alma Marquez 2,424- 1,248, Rick Rodriguez beat Friné Medrano 2,698- 1,789, and Alex Saab trounced Art Gonzales garnering a massive 17,247 to Gonzalez’ 3,817 votes.
In Central Basin Municipal Water races, Pedro Aceituno squeaked out a victory over Bob J. Archuleta 23,896 -22,288, Letcia Vasquez beat Maria Santillian Beas 23,026-9,789 and Phillip “Phil” Hawkins beat Judy P. Roldan 30,991-20,227.
In local measures, Bellflower Measure W proposing the City sell the Bellflower Municipal Water System to California-American Water Company 7,339-6,140.
In local State Assembly races, Ian C. Calderon beat Rita Topalian 64,515 -38,865 and incumbent Cristina Garcia beat Ramiro Alvarado 72,728-24,522.
In Water Replenishment races Robert “Rob” Katherman beat Jim Kennedy 68,429-49,080 and Albert Robles bested Ricardo “Rick” Pulido 46,456-32,144..
In the Supervisorial race for Don Knabe’s seat, Janice Hahn beat Steve Napolitano 1,028,021-724,055.
Congresswomen Linda Sanchez and Grace Napolitano both retained their seats. Grace F. Napolitano beat Roger Hernández 80,977-49,567, Linda T. Sánchez beat Ryan Downing 110,347 – 46,359.
Thank You to everyone who made Martha’s win possible!