Written by Barry Jantz, first published on SD Rostra
In one of the tightest — and most exciting — races for a San Diego County Board of Supervisors seat in history, former State Senator Joel Anderson has edged out Poway Mayor Steve Vaus by 282 votes in District 2, a mere one-tenth of one percent of the nearly 290,000 ballots cast in the contest.
It’s been a long four weeks since election night for the candidates, both vying to succeed the term-limited Dianne Jacob. Vaus led in the first count on November 3, by 4,029 votes, 51.02 to Anderson’s 48.98 percent.
Since then, 92,133 mailed and provisional ballots were added to the tally, ultimately just under one-third of the total votes cast. Anderson slowly whittled into the Vaus lead, surpassing him a week following the election, then hanging on to claim the seat. In that time, Anderson received 52.34 percent of the added ballots.
The race is a great study in the marginal differences two candidates can have in support from voters between early mailed ballots, later mailed ballots, and those ballots cast at the polls.
Certification of the results takes place tomorrow. Last night Registrar of Voters Michael Vu confirmed his office is wrapping up the presidential canvas, but although they are leaving the results unofficial in case of any minor oddities, he said, “We really don’t anticipate anything else to count.”
Photo via the Associated Press
