RICHMOND — In the tightest Richmond election race, Andrew Butt has an eight-vote lead over Cesar Zepeda for the City Council District 2 seat, according to results released Friday by Contra Costa County officials.
Butt has garnered 1,903 votes, or 50.11 percent, to Zepeda’s 1,895 votes, or 48.89 percent.
It was not clear how many Richmond votes are yet to be counted.
Butt, the current mayor’s son, has led throughout the ballot counting but his margin has continued to shrink.
The District 2 area has had hot debates, often placing natural open spaces, commercial industries and residential development at odds.
Butt has argued he wants to disrupt the Richmond Progressive Alliance’s vision for the city and preserve Richmond’s physical and cultural past. He has touted his experience as an architect, planning commissioner, city Design Review Board member and president of the Point Richmond Business Association.
Zepeda is not an RPA member but agrees with many of the coalition’s goals to increase affordable housing and preserve open spaces. He campaigned on an ability to balance diverse perspectives, after working within the West County Wastewater District, several Hilltop District neighborhood associations, the Contra Costa Community College Foundation and the GRIP homeless resource center.
The other city races have wider margins between opponents, according to the results so far.
Eduardo Martinez is the likely next mayor of Richmond, with 10,199 votes, or 39.16 percent. Shawn Dunning has 7,593 votes, or 29.16 percent, and Nathaniel “Nat” Bates has 7,251 votes, or 27.84 percent.
In the City Council District 4 race, Soheila Bana has a commanding lead with 4,162 votes or 67.42 percent. Opponent Jamin Pursel has 2,011 votes or 32.58 percent.
In the race for City Council District 3, Doria D. Robinson has 1,121 votes, or 39.33 percent, and Oscar Garcia has 887 votes, or 31.12 percent.
Source: www.mercurynews.com