Seven Votes Decide Chino Hills Tax Measure Amid Tight Inland Empire Races
Several local offices and school board seats in Riverside and San Bernardino counties remain within single-digit margins as votes are counted.
By Javier Sanders ·
Voters in the Inland Empire are facing a long wait for final results in several municipal and school district elections. As of 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5, numerous races in Riverside and San Bernardino counties remained undecided by small margins. The Riverside County and San Bernardino County registrars' offices continue to count ballots, with officials expecting the next update by 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6.
In Chino Hills, residents voted on Measure J, a proposal to levy a one-cent sales tax to fund emergency and environmental services. The measure failed by a razor-thin margin of seven votes. The tally showed 9,921 votes against the measure, or 50.02%, compared to 9,914 votes in favor, or 49.98%.
The race for the Romoland School District Trustee Area 1 seat is separated by six votes. Marvin Jeglin leads with 509 votes, representing 50.30% of the total, while Cynthia Navarro has 503 votes, or 49.70%. In the Lake Arrowhead Community Services District board Division 5 race, Eric Chappell holds a three-vote lead over Ben Naraghi. Chappell has 260 votes, or 50.29%, while Naraghi has 257 votes, or 49.71%.
Tight contests also define the current standings in San Bernardino County. Joseph Paulino leads Adrianna Escarcega by three votes in the Colton City Council District 4 race. Paulino has 938 votes, or 43.41%, while Escarcega has 935 votes, or 43.27%. In the Adelanto Unified School District School Board Area 2 race, Toni Martika Rojas-Evitts leads La Shawn V. Love-French by 19 votes. Rojas-Evitts has 908 votes, or 50.53%, and Love-French has 889 votes, or 49.47%.
Riverside County features several other close races. In Jurupa Valley City Council District 3, Edgar Castelan leads Brian Scott Berkson by 23 votes. Castelan has 722 votes, while Berkson has 699. Christobal “Chris” Rosales trails Berkson by seven votes with 692 ballots. In Jurupa Valley City Council District 5, Adrianna Gonzalez holds a three-vote lead over George Ruiz. Gonzalez has 1,114 votes, and Ruiz has 1,111. In Twentynine Palms City Council District 5, Shanese Risper leads McArthur Wright by 10 votes, with 219 ballots against Wright’s 209.
