Candidates are people too. Before the results rolled in on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 3) our team checked in to ask a variety of questions about sleep patterns, the campaign and any superstitions for the big day. See their responses below, edited for length and clarity. 

As of 4:50pm on Nov. 5, the Monterey County Elections Department reports there are more than 27,000 unprocessed vote-by-mail and provisional ballots, so some election results may change.

Mike Moeller, who won in a three-way race for Marina mayor

How did you start your day?

I think the first thing I did was make some coffee and check emails. I had a texting campaign set up. I got a lot of responses. Most of them were very positive.

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

No.

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

The fact that I had broad support from Republicans and Democrats. Some people really understand what it means to be nonpartisan in a local race. They understood the assignment. Just how many people would come together to support a candidate despite their national political differences. A lot of it probably had to do with No on Q. We saw a broad range of people coming together for that campaign.

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

Between me and my team, easily thousands.

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

I would say pretty fair for an amateur. I ran my own campaign in 2024 and it was a learning experience. I swore if I ran for office again I would have some sort of campaign manager. Of course, I was my own campaign manager for this race as well. I certainly don’t recommend it. It was a lot of work. I would say honestly I’m pretty proud of myself for somebody that ran his own campaign, didn’t self-fund and raised money from the community and unions. I think I did pretty good.

What was your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

I’m a car guy, and a couple of times I did work in the garage on a couple of my automotive projects I put on hold for this campaign. It was nice to decompress and open up the toolbox and tinker a little bit.

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

I definitely owe my wife a nice dinner and several days of undivided attention.

Ana Luz Acevedo-Cabrera, who lost her bid for Marina mayor

Did you sleep well last night?

Definitely. I’m a heavy sleeper, I usually fall asleep within a couple minutes.

How did you start your day?

I took a shower, brushed my teeth and then drove to class. I teach my first class at 8 in the morning.

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

I never thought about that. I’ve just been so busy with work.

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

There was one time that was kind of funny. It was when I was out canvassing and there was this gentleman I was talking to. He was excited and said I was the first candidate to talk to him. He immediately brought up his tree concern. Fortunately, I was able to tell him if you go to the Planning Commission, they do have a Tree Committee and you can talk to them. It was just so random. I expected typical questions like, what’s your stance on Measure Q? This guy wanted to know my thoughts on his tree.

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

I didn’t count. Afterward, I should definitely go back and check how many I went through with. It was a lot. It was enough to run out of flyers.

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

In terms of resourcefulness, I definitely give myself 10 out of 10. I ran out of time and I didn’t get a chance to knock on every single door. On that, I probably give myself a 7 for good effort. It was a lesson learned that I just need to have started a lot earlier. On the quality of the canvassing, I would give myself a 9 out of 10. Social media was a 10. Great engagement, great conversations.

What was your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

I have a lot of work to do. I’m teaching five classes this semester. I have fallen so behind on grading homework. I was able to keep up with all my classes, curriculum and teaching, but I’m very behind on grading. To get my mind off of it, it’s more out of necessity. I have so much to catch up on.

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

I like to think I have a fun life. I developed this tradition where for certain days of the week, on the days that I’m not teaching have a really nice fitness routine. I’ll go work out and then I’ll treat myself to a nice meal and go to the beach and spend time in nature. There’s usually dance events every week, like line dancing and salsa dancing. I’m going to squeeze that in.

Andrew Sandoval, who lost his reelection campaign for Salinas City Council 

Did you sleep well last night?

Yes, like a baby. 

How did you start your day?

I spoke to my wife and had a protein shake and talked to my kids on the way out. 

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

No. 

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

People kept greeting me by my name, like “Hi Andrew,” and then I will say: “Have we met before?” They’re like, “No, but we know who you are.” That always surprises me. 

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

I don’t, but I probably should have knocked on more doors. 

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

I would give myself a C. 

What was your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

The other day I went to church. That was a good way to refocus but honestly, it’s just hanging out with my wife and kids. 

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

My son is going to be turning 15 years old and I’m going to celebrate my 20th wedding anniversary. That's the fun I’m excited for. 

Tom Reeves, who is losing in his campaign for Monterey City Council

Did you sleep well last night?

I slept great. This is the end of a marathon in a way, and it was a long journey. 

How did you start your day?

Same as usual. I had breakfast and checked my emails. 

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

Not really. The die has been cast, so I will just wait for the results. 

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

I was pleasantly surprised by how much people care about their community and were willing to speak with me without slamming the door in my face or telling me to get off their property. 

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

Probably around 4,500 as I went through the neighborhoods twice. I think I had in-depth conversations with about 150 people or so. 

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

I gave it my best. I didn’t really hold any rallies or large get-togethers and instead focused on speaking to people one-on-one, which seemed like the best way to get to know people’s thoughts and concerns. 

What was your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

I have a lot of projects around the house and with the campaign, you always have something to do whether it’s filing 460s or doing another print run of signs. I was also keeping up with the City Council and NCIP [Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program], so it was a busy time. 

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

I like to decompress and go for pleasure walks. I also like to get out in nature and will likely go hiking somewhere in one of the Big Sur Land Trust [properties].

Kim Barber, who is winning reelection to Monterey City Council 

Did you sleep well last night?

I did. I stay pretty busy, so when I hit the pillow I am done. 

How did you start your day?

In prayer. I also wrote a note to my campaign team thanking them for their help. 

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

I do not. I left everything on the campaign trail. 

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

Not really. Most people are concerned about affordability and the price of food and gas and that’s people from all different kinds of perspectives. They were not only concerned with local politics, but national races as well. 

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

It was probably close to 1,000. I went through the district twice and started my campaign a little early in June. 

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

I had a lot of help from my team. I would give myself a B. 

What was your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

Hallmark movies. Believe it or not, I have already watched some Christmas movies. 

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

I will be going on a mission trip to Bolivia, which I hope will be fun.  

Dawn Addis, who was reelected for California State Assembly District 30 

How did you start your day?

I usually start with breakfast. My husband is so kind to bring me coffee in bed in the morning. I have breakfast, and feed the animals: We have two rescue pets, a tabby cat and a chowsky mix. 

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

Never count your chickens before they hatch. I won’t be at any parties until the polls close just after 8pm. I’m wishing other people good luck and paying attention to what’s going on, never taking anything for granted up until the last moment. 

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

The election interference by the Trump administration. We always knew that Trump is a sore loser and attacks others when he loses. But it’s been a real surprise the way he’s attacking our public servants.

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

We work very hard, I have a phenomenal team. 

What was your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

Going to the beach, going to the water. I took the dog out today because I was feeling Election Day jitters. 

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

You know, it’s really back to work. We have a caucus meeting on Thursday. 

Peter Szalai, unsuccessful mayoral candidate for Salinas 

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

There was a lot of negative energy. Especially toward the end, there are people who get online and they're not interested in engaging with you in a substantive or productive manner. They're just interested in either making cheap shots or tearing down people. 

I don't quite see what the purpose, or how that's helpful. There are four candidates. If you're interested in a particular candidate, then work to help that person become a better candidate. If you're not interested, move along. 

Jesus is not on the ballot. It'd be nice if he was running. He's not, so we have to choose from the people who have decided to put their names out. 

Any idea on how many bells you rang? 

Zero. I chose to do no door-knocking for a variety of reasons. I just didn't have the capacity. Our city is huge. It's 25 square miles and I'm not sure how effective door-knocking is in 2026. I've talked to a lot of candidates who walked many, many miles and knocked on hundreds of doors, and they lost. They went down in flames. So I'm not really sure what is an effective campaigning strategy in this day and age.

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner? 

This is my first time. I think I did pretty well in terms of learning how to use technology. I knew nothing about Instagram, nothing about TikTok; I'd never made a reel. I'd never filmed myself, or used a wireless mic. 

I think I presented myself pretty well. I'm not a politician. A politician is a vote collector and what you're supposed to do is you go around to different groups and you tell them things that they want to hear, and then they'll tell you, "All right, we'll give you our votes." I did not do that. My approach was: this is Peter Szalai. Here are the things that I stand for. Here's my thought process. Does this appeal to you? I'm not offering myself as a perfect candidate, obviously. 

What was your favorite way to take your mind out of politics for a few hours?

I like to go to the ocean. My favorite thing is to go to Lovers Point, and walk there. 

It's over tomorrow. Do you have any plans for fun?

No, I have non-fun plans. I have some health issues I have to deal with. Next week I'll be in the hospital for a day. I'm taking care of a 90-year-old mom. I’ve got to make arrangements for her [while I am in the hospital]. That's my next thing, and then after that—I’ve got to figure out what my next adventure is.

Alex Miller, a Seaside councilmember who ran unsuccessfully for mayor

Did you sleep well last night?

I didn’t sleep. I couldn’t. I was up all night.

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

We definitely prayed—my team. We were asking for success tonight. That’s been my routine in all of my campaigns.

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

I walked all over Seaside—some areas I’d never been to. All the different areas and all the different voices. I didn’t realize how big the city was until I started walking.

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

Around 4,000 that I did personally. I bought 7,500 door hangers and those went quickly. 

Ian Oglesby, Seaside Mayor who won his reelection campaign

Did you sleep well last night? 

As a matter of fact, I did. I slept soundly. It was helpful.

How did you start your day? 

A nice breakfast and then I got back to politicking—some final calls and emails, social media.

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

[Nothing.] It’s been about affordability—the cost of gas—and the streets.

What was your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

Some YouTube movies, some old classics. I watched Sink the Bismarck twice. That’s how far back I went.

Jose Guerra, an unsuccessful candidate for Salinas City Council 

Did you sleep well last night?

I slept really good, like I really ran a campaign—I mean, very efficiently with the little money I had, and I did a lot of the work myself. So I think I did really good.

How did you start your day?

I did a prayer that I do every morning. I prayed for all the candidates and for the residents of Salinas so that we all have a good day.

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

No I do not, but I do vote by 9am every time and no later than that.

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

Everything is new to me, nothing really shocked me.

What was your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

I don’t really, and in fact I enjoyed listening to how citizens felt about their community. 

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

I will take down all of my signs and give people back peace whether I win or lose, and maybe have a good clarification of the decisions they made and that they are happy about.

Hans Buder, a Carmel City Councilmember who won in a landslide victory for mayor 

Did you sleep well last night?

I slept pretty terribly. We have two kids that are up coughing and sick, so I slept in my office.

How did you start your day?

I got up and drove the kids to school, went to Starbucks and got a hot chocolate.

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

This is only my second Election Day, so I don’t know that I’ve gotten that far yet.

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

I don’t know that it surprised me, but we’ve been talking a lot about managing tourism and the parking in town. Two years ago that really just wasn’t in the zeitgeist when I went around and knocked on doors, but this year it was at the top of the list.

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

A lot fewer this year. I joke I have four jobs: my regular job, being a dad, councilmember and during campaign season, running a campaign. 

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

Hard to say. I definitely put effort into it, but certainly not a professional operation by any means.

What’s your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

I think just watching a movie with my wife, sitting down on the couch with her talking about the kids or things going on in our life aside from politics.

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

Yes. Megan and I are going to take a weekend away without the kids, which will be the second time we’ve done that in the past five or six years, so I’m looking forward to that.

David Boland, who ran unsuccessfully for Carmel mayor

Did you sleep well last night?

Last night was pretty good, today has been tough. Anticipation nerves.

How did you start your day?

Got a haircut. Woke up early, did a little hot tub before the sun came up.

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

I should have asked my girlfriend, she is the one in charge of our energy. No good luck superstition. I’m trying to be present in where we’re trying to be.

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

There’s such a vast amount of conversation and work that I’ve done. I ended up knocking on [former mayor] Ken White’s door, without knowing that I was going to Ken White’s house, and he invited me in and we were just talking about our favorite things about Carmel. It was one of those things where I just thought, Oh these are such charming memories of Carmel, when they used to hand count our ballots and it used to not coincide with the normal elections. 

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

I would say maybe about 50 door knocks. The way I campaigned was based on different forums. I had maybe six or seven backyard conversations, each one of those had about 10 to 20 people. That was really how I got my word out.

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

On a scale of 1 to 10, maybe a 3 or 4. There was so much about running for office that I was completely oblivious about prior to running, even what I’m going to be doing on election night.

What’s your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

My girlfriend and I, we love to just be in nature and just separate ourselves from crowds. Go down to Big Sur and just look out over the ocean.

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

We had a dog Lucy that recently passed away, who was sick for a while. So we have a lot of pent-up travel that we would like to do. 

Nick Smith, who was reelected as mayor of Pacific Grove 

Did you sleep well last night?

I did, I slept really well actually.

How did you start your day?

I started my day with a cup of iced coffee and a client phone call.

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

I don’t. I usually go to work, but that's not anything special.

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

Not sure if anything surprised me…everyone was pretty friendly and accepting, super nice and friendly and engaging, that’s my takeaway.

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

Ballpark, 1,000.

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

I would say I’m a pretty effective campaigner. I will work hard and try to get to as many doors as I can. Once I lock in on it, I can be pretty intense at it.

What was your favorite way to take your mind off of politics for a few hours?

Not sure it was a favorite but I did a lot of work. Watching my daughters play volleyball, that was a more fun one to be honest.

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

Yes, I’m going to take Thanksgiving week off, and take a little trip either up north or down south, not sure yet, either to Napa/Sonoma or Santa Barbara.

Cynthia Garfield, who was reelected to Pacific Grove City Council 

Did you sleep well last night?

I did. I’m currently babysitting my grandson. I had a wonderful day and I slept like a log.

How did you start your day?

I took my grandson to daycare. And I'm sitting in a coffee shop enjoying a lovely cup of coffee.

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

No, I don’t. This has been fully baked for a long time I think so we'll see; if I win I win and if I lose I will go on to have a wonderful life.

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

What really still surprises me is that people believe the misinformation on social media and how difficult it is to refute misstatements, false information and how it has a life of its own. I want the city to be the most trusted source of information and we aren’t, and we need to be.

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

I knocked on and/or hung information on every single of the 1,800 residences in my district, including apartment buildings, I walked up every floor, knocked on every door. I felt  very energized even though my knees hurt.

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

I did what I think is the right thing to do. I met people in person. I didn’t engage in character assasination on social media.

What was your favorite way to take your mind off of politics for a few hours?

Golf.

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

More golf. Hiking, love to hike. Gardening, love to garden. It’s a way to focus and your brain is working on the back burner. I get some great ideas after I’ve finished in the yard.

Carey Swensen, who ran and lost for a third time for Salinas City Council 

How did you start your day?

I started with a cup of coffee and a little meditation and then I was asked to do a mock interview at Rancho San Juan [High SChool]. 

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

This is my third time running and when I was in the neighborhood looking for my friends, a van came and a couple yelled out, “Good morning, Ms. Swensen.” I had no idea who they were; it was surprising people recognized me. 

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

Since September, several hundred. 

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

I would give myself a B-. 

What was your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

I like to read. I have a friend who lives in Carmel and owns a shop in Monterey; at least once or twice a month I go out to have coffee with her to get out of Salinas and relax and look at the ocean. 

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

I teach at Hartnell and I do have to teach in the morning. Really nothing, just work all week.

Athena Burciaga, who is trailing in third place out of three for Marina City Council District 4 (by 39 votes)

Did you sleep well last night?

I slept about as well as a kid the night before Christmas.

How did you start your day?

I made a version of "Can You Feel It" by The Jacksons to play at the beginning of my speech on election night.

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

Spending it with the ones I love—my friends, family and community. 

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

Voters did not believe that running on a working class agenda of affordability was such a radical idea.

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

Our campaign knocked over 1,500 doors, more than double our initial win number.

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

I would rate myself a B and my volunteer team an A+. They are the real superstars of the campaign. Shoutout to Central Coast DSA [Democratic Socialists of America].

What was your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

I put many hours into Elden Ring and Pokemon Pokopia on my Switch 2.

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

I have two tickets to see Porter Robinson b2b Ninajirachi in San Francisco at the end of the month.

Alec Manas, who is winning in a three-person race for Monterey City Council District 2

Did you sleep well last night?

I slept well. A few moments when I woke up and thought about the election, but overall I had a high sleep score on my Apple watch. 

How did you start your day?

Just as a normal day—I woke up and got ready, took a shower, made some matcha and headed into work. 

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

No, this is my first time doing it. I did say a prayer this morning. But other than that, I know I gave this election my all. A lot of people came out of the woodwork and supported me. Knowing I put my best foot forward is all I can do, and that motivated me. I’m feeling confident.

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

One thing that surprised me was just how involved and knowledgeable so much of Monterey is on elections, and the city as a whole. It was a pleasant surprise—I think we have a special area. 

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

A group of volunteers went out every weekend—just myself, I would say probably close to 1,000. I was hitting it pretty hard. 

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

I gave it my full effort. Out of a 10, I guess a 10, maybe a 9.5. I feel like I have an obligation to the City of Monterey and to myself to give it my all and leave no regrets.

What was your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

The best way has been exercise, running on the Rec Trail and weight-lifting. And hanging out with my friends, family and my girlfriend. 

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

I’ll take a bit of time to reflect on how the race went, where the numbers are at. 

That does not sound fun.

For me it’s important. While it’s fresh, to try and remember it. And then probably just do a little bit of exercise and keep at it, keep moving forward. 

Rita Burks, who was reelected to Seaside City Council (currently the top vote-getter out of six candidates)

Did you sleep well last night?

I’m a school principal and I have a 14-year-old who is sick—and a son who just got deployed. He’s in the Navy.

How did you start your day?

I was in community schools training at CSUMB.

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

Potentially, yeah. Being able to focus on smaller things.

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

I have students who said their parents showed them how to vote, second-graders who watched them fill out their ballots. Some had my flyers in their backpacks. [It’s not something I encouraged.] I keep work and politics separate.

Brent Bagley, who lost his campaign for Salinas City Council 

Did you sleep well last night?

I was surprised, but I slept pretty well.

How did you start your day?

With my baby. I have a new baby, so that’s my favorite way to spend the morning.

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

It surprised me how many people officially declare they would vote for one candidate, when privately they share that they will or would like to vote for another candidate.

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

About 1,000. And then during trick-or-tricking I was identified and asked questions several times.

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

I’m new to this. I’m a regular citizen. But it went well.

What was your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

My wife and I are interested in cinema. We have a long list of movies to watch and we always add new titles to the list.

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

A nap. I don’t know if I will win or not, but the election is just a beginning. We want to keep this momentum going.  

Susan Goldbeck, an unsuccessful candidate for Pacific Grove City Council 

Did you sleep well last night?

I did. I’m anxious for the election to be over but really not worried about it—not enough to keep me up.

How did you start your day?

I had my usual cup of coffee and watched election coverage on CNN.

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

I wear my campaign clothes. I have red, white and blue earrings and a red, white blue shirt and red shoes.

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

I walked 268 houses before I had a serious injury. The thing that surprised me and pleased me was how connected to the issues people were. They were very caring about what was going on in Pacific Grove. And I was very pleased how delighted virtually everybody was that a candidate would walk to their door.

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

I had a serious injury to my foot, so I had to have major surgery. I was girl, interrupted as far as campaigning was concerned.

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

I think I’m very sincere, I love the town and I work hard. And I think people appreciate it. Perhaps too hard this time.

What was your favorite way to take your mind off of politics for a few hours?

I have a really energetic dog, Betty, and I take her over to the dog beach at Asilomar.

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

I’ve put a lot of things on hold, so I'm going to catch up. I wrote a novel and I’m going to try to turn it into a screenplay. I went to a seminar this past June. I’m enjoying the process, but it’s difficult.

Bobby Richards, an unsuccessful candidate for Carmel City Council 

Did you sleep well last night?

Like a baby.

How did you start your day?

My friend and I went and picked up [campaign] signs, then went to Mi Tierra in Seaside for a breakfast burrito. Love that spot. 

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

No. But this was the first election that I wanted my voting record [from my two previous terms on council] to speak for itself during this campaign cycle, instead of campaigning.

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

People want shorter meetings. Hopefully this council can deliver that because longer meetings exclude a lot of people. And then the one thing that bothered me the most was the divisiveness of Measure M.

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

That was not part of my strategy. I am out and about. I dine at a lot of restaurants, go to ribbon cuttings, mixers, city fairs and functions. I felt like I got enough exposure just by being an active citizen.

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

That’s tough. I want to say that campaigning is not my strong suit, but listening, making good decisions and institutional knowledge is by far a stronger suit for me.

What’s your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

Getting away with friends and family. Doesn't matter where, as long as I’m in good company.

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

I’m taking a nice little vacation. Going to spend some time with some friends in Southern California.

Tony Barrera, who was reelected to Salinas City Council 

Did you sleep well last night?

I slept very well.

How did you start your day?

I just came back from my working walk at Ensen Community Park and it’s a beautiful trail. 

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

No. I try to respect everybody and I’ve been through this before, but this is the nastiest race I’ve gone through. Very negative; you just hope for the best and see what happens with the rest. 

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

Well I don’t know if it surprised me, but the real voters are tired of the negativity. 

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

There’s three of us and we’re very consistent. We’re a good team and we walk the entire district.  

What was your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

I have horses so it’s very pleasant. I don’t own a ranch, I rent but it keeps me grounded.

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

Tomorrow I’m having lunch with the city manager at my favorite restaurant, El Zacatecano, and I’m looking forward to that. 

Liesbeth Visscher, a Marina councilmember who ran unsuccessfully for mayor 

Did you sleep well last night?

I did. Short but good. 

How did you start your day?

I started my day with getting up at 6am to go human billboarding for the final morning. 

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

I don’t. Whatever happens with the vote will happen. 

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

What surprised me was the Yes on Q signs being stolen. It happened even just a few days ago. Other than that, no surprises. People have different opinions. They are all passionate about our city. We all care for our city but we just have different thoughts about what’s best for our city.

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

With our team of volunteers, we definitely did more than 2,000 for sure. Sunday after the farmers market I did my final door knocking. I love knocking on doors, I love talking with people. Most people are so nice.

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

It’s hard for me to grade myself. My team said I did a good job. [Mayor] Bruce Delgado said I ran a great campaign. I worked hard, as did my opponents. We gave it everything we have.

What was your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

I’m looking forward to reading books again. I like puzzles. I like Wordle, I’m addicted. I do 11 Wordles, English and Dutch, per day. It relaxes me.

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

There’s a city council meeting tomorrow. The work will go on. I will still be on the council until mid-December. I’m sleeping in tomorrow after the party. I was wise enough not to schedule anything in the morning.

Alissandra Dramov, who was reelected to Carmel City Council 

Did you sleep well last night?

(Laughs) In general it’s been tiring, it’s been a lot of work. The election season felt like it started really early this year.

How did you start your day?

Just the usual, nothing special. Coffee, email, texts.

Do you have a good luck superstition or ritual for Election Day?

No not at all, haven’t even thought about it, maybe i’m still too new to the process.

What is something you heard on the campaign trail that surprised you?

I think that the interesting part is the level that people are active and involved and understand our city government. There are some people out there who follow our meetings, even if they don’t come to the meetings, they still know all the issues and they’re active and engaged. On the opposite end of the spectrum are people who don’t follow anything, have no idea who the candidates are or really any of the issues.The wide range of involvement and knowledge about how our city government operates was interesting to learn.

Any idea how many doorbells you rang?

I didn’t do door-to-door campaigning. I focused on going to the post office and interacting with voters there. I find the post office the best place to meet people in town, it’s such a daily gathering place for Carmelites.

How would you rate yourself as a campaigner?

I’m still new even though it’s my second time. Some of it feels more familiar. It’s really about being your authentic self, being genuine talking to voters. In general it’s difficult to put yourself out there.

What’s your favorite way to take your mind off politics for a few hours?

Definitely going down to the beach, taking a walk.

It’s over tomorrow. Any plans for some fun?

Goodness. The thing is, on Friday, Nov. 6 we have a full day of candidate interviews for the city administrator. Then a week later we have the final interviews. So it feels like we’re just going to keep on working.