Lewis Keeps Her Seat on Peninsula Water Board; Thayer Wins After Withdrawing

Late Election Night, with all precincts counted, incumbent Brenda Lewis is well ahead of challenger Dean Provence in Seaside-centric District 1, 55 to 45 percent.

Lewis’ only comment, after a long pause: “I’m just looking forward to finding water for this community.”

Provence is more upbeat. “Well, it was my first time out and it was a very interesting experience,” he says. “If they don’t start getting things done, I might run again.”

The split was similar in District 2—which is strange, considering one candidate withdrew in mid-September. Yet challenger Bill Thayer won, 55 percent to incumbent Judi Lehman’s 45.

Melissa Lomeli-Sesma of the Monterey County Elections Department says Thayer withdrew too late, so the department will certify him as the winner. 

And Thayer says he plans to take the oath of office, even though he plans to move out of the Del Rey Oaks and north Monterey district during his term. 

“I’m working on the options from there,” he says.

Lehman says she’s not taking it personally, but she’s a bit confounded by Thayer’s decision to accept her seat: “He says one thing and does another.”