Bauters, Patz, Medina win Council Seats. Cruz, Inch to School Board

On a night that few will remember for local results (I think we’re all still in shock), Emeryville elected three new councilmembers last night. In what was the expected result by most political observers, Candidates John Bauters, Christian Patz and Ally Medina all won seats on Emeryville’s City Council replacing longtime Councilmembers Nora Davis and Ruth Atkin and single term candidate Jac Asher.

The three winning candidates were supported and actively campaigned for by the Council Majority and received the biggest predictor of the election outcome, the cherished Alameda County Democratic Central Committee endorsement (A committee that Mayor Dianne Martinez was elected to in the spring primary). Campaign financing was also relatively telling factor of the outcome:

John Bauters: $26,642
Ally Medina: 10,280
Louise Engel: $9,460
Christian Patz: $5,098
Brynnda Collins: $2,675
John T. Van Geffen: <$2,000 (self-funded)

All the candidate’s filing documents can be read online.

Emeryville’s population was last noted as 11,721 and an estimated 6,491 (55%) are registered voters. Bauters, who received the most votes, won with just 22% of the registered vote. Emeryville has consistently been at the bottom of voter turnout in Alameda county. The results will be certified 30 days after the date of the election.

Vargas, Inch win School Board Seats

Political newcomers Cruz Vargas and Barbara Inch each won one of the two available school board seats decisively. With Board President John Affeldt stepping down and Christian Patz being elected to Council, the board will need to fill two vacancies. Incumbent Joy Ashe, who ran as a write-in candidate, would be a popular pick to fill one of those seats.