Carson and Long Beach Candidates Declare Victory in Local Races

Carson and Long Beach Candidates Declare Victory in Local Races

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Two of the closest races in the Long Beach and South Bay areas during the Nov. 3 election appeared over on Tuesday, Nov. 10: Carson City Council District 4 and Long Beach Community College District Area 5.

While these outcomes have clarified, other municipal seats and local measures remain in flux as the L.A. County registrar’s office continues the work of processing thousands of outstanding ballots.

The registrar, which released the semi-official results for the Nov. 3 election shortly after 3 a.m. Wednesday, will proceed with data updates over the next two weeks until every remaining ballot is counted and the final results are official.

Carson City Council District 4 Transition

In Carson, District 4 incumbent Arleen Rojas officially conceded to her opponent John Hollaway, an entrepreneur and public works commissioner, on Tuesday. According to the registrar’s office, Hollaway held a lead of 51.57% to 48.43% as of the 5:01 p.m. update that day.

“I know they’re still counting, and I know who all my neighbors, my district, my voters and supporters are. These remaining ballots are all yours, JH! Congratulations my neighbor Councilman John Hollaway, these numbers are record breaking!”

Rojas shared this sentiment in a Facebook post, acknowledging the ongoing count. “This victory is bigger than me,” Hollaway said in a statement.

“It belongs to the residents of Carson’s District 4 who believed in a vision of servant leadership, accountability, and community first. After eight years of serving without a title, the people have entrusted me with a greater responsibility. I don’t see this as a position of power, but a privilege to serve.”

Elections update: Candidates in Carson, Long Beach races declare victory; other races remain tight – Daily Breeze
Photo: newsbeep.com

Long Beach Community College Trustee Area 5

The race for the Long Beach Community College District’s Board of Trustees in Area 5 also saw a decisive move toward closure. Huy “Henry” Nguyen, a veteran and school district administrator, maintained a lead of 53.1% over education advocate and business owner Susana Gonzalez Edmond, who held 46.9% of the vote. As of the Tuesday evening update, Nguyen led by 2,481 votes and has formally declared victory.

Nguyen emphasized his background as a disabled veteran and his focus on the student experience in his victory statement. “I’m honored that Area 5 voters have chosen me as their next trustee,” Nguyen said in his statement. He pledged to prioritize affordability and expanded support services for the student body, including dedicated assistance for veteran students.

RPV Candidates Prioritize Landslide Mitigation

While some races have settled, others remain tight. In the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council race, six candidates are vying for three seats. A former mayor and two past planning commissioners are among the candidates. Landslide mitigation remains a dominant issue for the RPV council candidates. Both David Chura and John Cruikshank have identified securing funding for emergency services and necessary infrastructure in response to landslides as a primary goal. While Matthew Brach shares this sentiment, he emphasized that the city council must also prioritize the quality of life for residents while managing emergency operations.

Tina Funiciello has said that although addressing landslide recovery is essential, other public services and city infrastructure have been neglected due to the primary focus on land movement. Meanwhile, the El Segundo City Council race remains a contest for two seats.

Nonprofit CEO John Pickhaver leads with 34.79%, followed by incumbent Mayor Chris Pimentel at 33.36% and incumbent Councilmember Ryan Baldino at 31.85%. With 177 votes separating Pickhaver and Pimentel, and 187 votes between Pimentel and Baldino, the final outcome remains subject to the remaining ballot counts.

The Status of Measure PVE

Palos Verdes Estates faces a decision regarding Measure PVE, a proposed parcel tax intended to fund the city’s independent police department. As of Tuesday evening, the measure sat at 67.95% approval, with 32.05% opposing. The proposed Measure PVE would generate approximately $8.7 million annually, and would follow Measure E, which voters passed in 2018 with 70% support.

The L.A. County registrar’s office is scheduled to release the next update between 4 and 5 p.m. Wednesday.

More on this story: South Bay Election Update: Closest Races and Measure PVE Results

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