The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

Brief: Gutierrez pulls ahead of incumbent in District One race

City+Council+District+1+candidate+Alejandra+Gutierrez+meets+with+supporters+outside+Casa+Blanca+Restaurant+%26+Cantina+on+Tuesday%2C+Nov.+5%2C+2019%2C+in+Santa+Barbara%2C+Calif.
Lucy Marx
City Council District 1 candidate Alejandra Gutierrez meets with supporters outside Casa Blanca Restaurant & Cantina on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Semi-official results are in for the District 1 City Council seat, and Alejandra Gutierrez has pulled ahead of incumbent Jason Dominguez by a nail-biting 10 points.

An initial tally on Tuesday, Nov. 5 had Gutierrez in a close second at 31 points behind Dominguez. Updated tally results released on Friday, Nov. 8 which include mail-in and drop-off ballots from Tuesday onward have Gutierrez at 939 points and Dominguez at 929 points, with third candidate Cruzito Herrera Cruz at 97 points. 

“I feel really confident about the response I’ve gotten from the community,” said Gutierrez. “People recognize my name. They know my work.”

Gutierrez has worked for her local community for 20 years and is especially well known for her work at Franklin School. As a new face in politics running against an incumbent, Gutierrez expected a difficult race. 

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“I knew it was going to be tough,” she said. “I’m so proud.”

The final tally should be in by Friday, and every vote counts for a margin so small. 

“Votes are still being counted and this is an incredibly close race,” said Dominguez in a statement to The Channels. “I look forward to continuing to serve our region in whatever ways I can.”

Final election results will be updated when they are available, but for now, the candidates can only wait. 

“Anything can happen, but I’m hopeful,” said Gutierrez. 

Update Nov. 18 11:20 a.m.: Final tally results on Friday, Nov. 14 place Alejandra Gutierrez in the lead once again at 963 points, only eight votes ahead of incumbent Jason Dominguez. 

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