As the ballots are still being counted, some races have settled and can be considered closed. The City Council looks to be seating Puza and Wisnosky Stehlin, and all three of the incumbents on the School Board will all keep their seats.
Mayor Freddy Puza has a strong lead in first place in the City Council contest will 30.26% of the vote, a total of 7,596 ballots counted so far,, and will keep his seat for another four year term. In an email to thanks supporters, he said “When I made Culver City home, I fell in love with a community that shows up for each other. This campaign proved that again.”
Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin is holding strong in second place, with 24.07% of the vote, a total of 6,043 ballots, and looks to be elected to the next council.
Thomas Ajuero Small has moved back into third position after the most recent ballot drop, and holds 20.93% of the vote with 5,254 ballots. Kimberley Griffin is close behind in fourth, with 20.66% of the vote, a total of 5,187 ballots. Finally, Franklin Carvajal has 4.07% of the vote, with 1,022 ballots.
School Board President Stephanie Loredo noted “It takes many hands to accomplish our goals, and this campaign was made possible by our shared commitment to a thriving Culver City.” She is the top of that contest with 29.49% of the vote, for a total of 8,993 ballots.
Also winning his re-election campaign, School Board member Brian Guerrero offered “Being re-elected feels very different from being elected the first time. Four years ago I asked Culver CIty voters to take a chance on me as a relatively unknown parent and educator. I knew a lot about Culver City schools and schools in general, but all folks had to go on were my ideas and promises. Now, four years later, I was able to run on my record and on the relationships we’ve built. It was much more of a referendum on the work we’ve done.”He has 26. 91% of the vote, for a total of 8,207 ballots.
The third member of the board to be re-elected is Triston Ezidore, who holds 25. 95% of the vote with a total of 7,914 ballots thus far. Ezidore’s message after the election stated that “Voters told us something important today: delivering results and good governance is popular, electable, and re-electable.”
Judith Martin-Straw
