As the first vote counts dropped for candidates in the Monterey mayoral and City Council races Tuesday night shortly after 8pm, a roar of excitement rang through Oscar’s Playground on Cannery Row, where Monterey Mayor Tyller Williamson, District 1 Councilmember Kim Barber and Alec Manas, candidate for District 2, held a joint watch party attended by about 100 supporters. The trio was elated at the initial results.
In the race for the Monterey mayor, Williamson has received 4,758 votes, or roughly 72 percent of the total votes counted. Candidate Vince Malfitano, who declined to comment on the results, received 1,819 votes, or approximately 28 percent of the initial tally.
“I feel amazing,” Williamson said at the party. “I am so thankful for everybody coming out. I am obviously waiting for more results to come out, but it looks pretty good. I am excited.”
Barber, who says she heard many concerns about affordability from Monterey residents on the campaign trail, took an early lead in the District 1 race, with 964 votes in her favor, or approximately 52 percent of the total.
“I’m ecstatic and very grateful to have the support of the people to get a second term and go back to work for them,” Barber says.
Barber’s challenger Tom Reeves, a retired Monterey city engineer, who says he prefers knocking on doors to holding campaign rallies, is trailing Barber by a small margin, with 890 votes or 48 percent of the total.
“I appreciate all the support I have received from throughout the community,” Reeves says. “It’s been a very humbling experience to have so many people engage with me along this campaign. And no matter what happens, I will continue to support and advocate for this community. I’ve been involved in the community ever since I arrived here 38 years ago and I’m not intending to go away.”
In the three-person race for District 2, Jeff Whitmoyer, a retired fiduciary manager, who did not fundraise for his campaign, received 384 votes or approximately 23 percent of the early count. Vicki Nohrden, who ran for state office in the past, received 596 votes or 36 percent. Manas, a housing professional who is a first-time candidate, is currently in the lead. He received 660 votes or about 40 percent of the tally as of 8:15pm.
“I knew I had support coming into this but I didn’t realize how much support I actually had,” Manas says. “I put my best foot forward with this campaign and I feel confident.”
Measure S would extend a 1-percent sales tax to fund street, sidewalk, storm drain and ADA repairs and improvements that was first approved in 2014. It looks likely to win based on initial results, with 1,474 votes cast against it, and 5,288 votes in favor, or about 72 percent of the total. Measure S needs two-thirds to pass.