Tax increase, cannabis sales measures soundly defeated
While not all the votes have been counted, most of the races are all but decided. Anni Marshall is on her way to re-election as the Mayor of Avalon. As of Thursday, Marshall held nearly 60 percent of the votes over Steve Hoefs. Brenda Hoefs posted a concession statement on behalf of her husband on Facebook, congratulating Marshall.
Hoefs also thanked the community members who supported her husband and voted for him.
“When we began this process-we put it in God’s hands, and we continue to trust that all that happens is meant to be for one reason or another,” Brenda wrote. “To all who voted for Steven-thank you so much for your support!”
In the race for the seat that has two years remaining in its term, Michael Ponce also has a sizable lead that is likely to hold up. Ponce holds more than 64 percent of the vote over Carl Johnson.
The race for the four-year term is tight among three of the candidates for two seats. Lisa Lavelle leads the count with 25.54 percent of the vote. Her 390 votes are followed by 332 votes for Yesenia Sarahi De La Rosa (21.74 percent). That tally is just three votes ahead of incumbent Oley Olsen, who holds 21.55 percent of the votes.
Voters also responded with a resounding no on votes for Measure SS, an added one-quarter percent sales that was meant to bring in a estimate $240,000 annually for the city budget. The tax would have been in effect until voters rescinded it. More than 65 percent of the votes were no votes, looking like the measure will fail.
Voters also rejected Measures E and F, which were advisory votes on the prospect of allowing delivery of cannabis for adult recreational (Measure E) and allowing for a storefront dispensary within the city of Avalon (Measure F). Both measures are failing with no votes garnering making up more than 58 percent of the votes. Measure F received nearly 66 percent no votes.