Antioch Mayor’s race tightens with latest vote count update, residents discuss Harper recall if re-elected
The latest results as of Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at 4:56 p.m. from the Contra Costa County Elections Division website.
By Allen Payton
In an unexpected turn of events, the race for Mayor of Antioch between Dr. Sean Wright and incumbent Wade Harper narrowed, Tuesday night, following the latest count of the remaining ballots from last week’s election. As of the last update on Thursday, November 10th, Wright was in the lead by 229 votes. That lead has shrunk by 70 votes to just 159.
The results, posted at 4:56 p.m. on the County Elections website, www.cocovote.us, shows Wright with 34.78% of the vote to Harper’s 34.21%.
Ballots lined up to be counted in the County Elections office on Tuesday, November 15, 2016. Photo by Joe Canciamilla
There are still over 100,000 ballots to count in the county. According to County Clerk and Registrar of Voters Joe Canciamilla, they “still have probably another 50,000 after this plus, 32,000 provisionals and 30,000 remakes.”
Remakes, he said are “Damaged ballots that can’t go through the scanners. People have crossed things out torn them, spilled coffee, many changed their minds on props and crossed out and drew arrows.”
“We have staff in teams reviewing, then they have to copy the votes onto a clean ballot so it can be scanned,” Canciamilla continued. “They can also be described as special handling. Very labor intensive.”
He also said the next update will be provided this Friday, November 18th.
After learning of the latest results, some Antioch residents, concerned that Harper may be re-elected, are already discussing starting a recall against him on social media. However, if he does win they will have to wait until Harper has been in office at least 90 days before serving him with a recall petition.
In a comment on Kip Stephens’ post on his Facebook page asking, “How long?” the election results will take to be finalized, Linda Hudson wrote, “Kip I’ll help you get he signatures if Harper wins to have him recalled!”
Stephens responded, “Linda we are already conforming a team for that and you are on it.”
Former council candidate Fred Rouse then wrote, “Add me.”
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