One incumbent ousted in Ceres

CERES — One incumbent led on election night among four candidates vying for two seats on the City Council, while another incumbent was ousted.

Bret Durossette secured 28.8 percent of the vote while incumbent Guil-lermo Ochoa earned 23.1 percent and finished third.

Durossette, a high school teacher and coach, was appointed to the council in 2007, so this is his first election win.

"It is exciting," Durossette said from his home Tuesday night. "The next four years are going to be a great time for Ceres."

Ochoa's seat was taken by Planning Commissioner Mike Kline, who secured 25.42 percent of the votes.

"I am very happy," Kline said after the returns. "I am ready to hit the ground running and get the economic recovery back on track and put people back to work."

Kline has pledged to tackle the city's 19.8 percent unemployment rate by working with local businesses to hold job fairs and workshops to strengthen residents' résumés and interview skills. He said he will encourage the owners of new businesses moving into the city to hire Ceres residents first.

This was Kline's third run for a City Council seat, and his first win.

Ochoa nearly tied with Daniel Padilla, who finished the night with 22.30 percent of the vote.

"I think I need to congratulate Bret Durossette and Mike Kline, and Daniel Padilla for splitting the votes," Ochoa said after the third round of returns. "My strategy didn't work and (Kline's) did. Mine was to go on the merits of what I did for the past six years, and unfortunately it didn't happen."

A longtime Ceres politician, Eric

Ingwerson, took the half-term seat on the council that was vacated by Chris Vierra, who was appointed as mayor earlier this year. Vierra ran unopposed.

Ingwerson secured the council seat with 38.49 percent of the vote.

Former Ceres city employee Linda Ryno and Planning Commissioner Hugo Molina finished with 33.4 percent and 27.81 percent, respectively.

Ingwerson started his career in politics on the Planning Commission in 1988 and was elected to the council in 1994. He served until retiring in 2003.

Bee staff writer Erin Tracy can be reached at etracy@modbee.com or (209) 578-2366.