Update: New members headed to Turlock City Council, early returns indicate
The two Turlock City Council candidates endorsed by the local public safety unions led the early voting results Tuesday night.
Rebecka Monez was ahead of incumbent Gil Esquer 50.3 percent to 28.8 percent in the race for District 2, with fellow challenger Ruben Wegner accounting for 21 percent of the votes reported as of 10:30 p.m.
Pam Franco, the District 4 candidate backed by the Turlock firefighter and police unions, also held a 21.7 percent lead over Robert Puffer. The preliminary results Tuesday only included ballots turned in before Election Day, the Stanislaus County Voter Registrar’s office said.
This marks the second by-district election for Districts 2 and 4, which cover southwest and northwest Turlock respectively. The winners will serve a four-year term on the council, voting on budget management, road repair requests and homeless plans, among other topics. The incoming council may decide how to spend revenue from the local sales tax measure if it passes.
(See updated Stanislaus County results of all races)
Incumbent and notary public Esquer, 70, is running for a second term. Criminal defense attorney Monez, 45, and emergency management professional Wegner, 34, are vying for the seat as political newcomers.
“I am grateful to my fellow west siders for their support and I’m very much looking forward to the results,” Monez said in an email to The Bee Wednesday.
Meanwhile, business owner Franco, 57, and accountant Puffer, 63, are seeking to replace outgoing Council Member Becky Arellano. Franco interviewed for the District 4 vacancy in January 2019 after Amy Bublak was elected mayor, but the council appointed Arellano to a term ending this year. Puffer is also running for office for the first time.
“I am excited to get to work and so thankful to the citizens of District 4 for their support and trust,” Franco said in a text to the Bee Wednesday. “I appreciate Mr. Puffer and his desire to serve Turlock.”
Election officials have counted 2,744 votes in the District 2 race and 4,789 votes in the District 4 race, according to the 10:30 p.m. preliminary results report. Elections officials can count vote-by-mail ballots through Nov. 20.
While Franco, Monez, Puffer and Wegner did not hold events Tuesday night, Esquer rented a hall to thank his supporters but said he limited the number of attendees. Around 7 p.m., about 20 people — including Council members Nicole Larson, Andrew Nosrati and Arellano — ate at spaced out tables and talked while watching election results on a projector. Esquer provided disposable face masks near the entrance if guests did not bring one.
“I’m hopeful that every new elected official who comes in takes their election hat off as soon as the last vote has been tallied and comes to the table to work together,” Nosrati said. “And that we can put the politics of it all to the side as soon as possible and start working (toward) the best interest of the whole community.”
The county is expected to release updated election results on Friday.
This story was originally published November 3, 2020 at 10:48 PM.
