Merced City Council candidates seek to lead Districts 1, 3 and 5. See latest election results
The race for three seats on Merced City Council continues. The latest results, released Wednesday morning, are in.
In District 1, local civil attorney Darin DuPont continued to lead over planning commissioner Walter Smith as a third round of results were released at about 9 a.m. Wednesday. Dupont has 698 votes or 52.72% of the 1,324 votes counted.. Smith has received 622 votes or 46.98%.
“It’s still early,” DuPont said. “I know there are more votes to be counted but it’s a good step forward to be in the early lead. It’s going to be exciting to see what unfolds.”
Both candidates agree the most pressing issues facing District 1 and Merced include affordable housing, infrastructure improvements and economic development.
“Our community needs strong leadership to address these challenges and create a more equitable and prosperous future for everyone,” Smith said.
District 1 represents Southeast Merced.
In District 3: incumbent Bertha Perez is not seeking another term.
Seeking to replace her are: Mike Harris, a retired sheriff’s sergeant and planning commissioner, Cynthia Kelly, the Merced SPCA president and former City of Merced employee, and Sair Lara Rodriguez, who has worked in education for 16 years.
Harris was leading in the three-way race with 800 or 48.08% of the 1,664 votes counted thus far. Next was Rodriguez with 575 or 34.56% of the vote and then Kelly with 275 or 16.53%.
District 3 covers Northwest Merced.
In District 5: incumbent Sarah Boyle leads challenger Alex Carrillo. Boyle has tallied 833 votes or 51.07% of 1,631 votes counted so far. Carrillo has received 541 votes or 33.17%.
Boyle works as a social media coordinator at UC Merced, Carrillo, also works at UC Merced as a communications and policy director.
“I’m excited. I think all the hard work paid off,” Boyle said. “It was worth it.”
Local attorney Felipe Rojas-Flores’ named appeared as a candidate on the ballot for District 5, but announced he dropped out of the race in early October. Rojas-Flores still received 251 votes or 15.39%.
Boyle says one of the key issues she’s heard from residents is addressing the unhoused population.
Boyle said the city needs to continue the Homekey projects in Merced. She said when the police department does go to homeless encampments they are providing resources.
“I think ultimately, working with our county, state and federal programs, and how we can get more of these funding to build these (low income) houses,” Boyle said.
Carrillo felt affordable housing was another key issue. He feels there are too many apartment complexes being built in Merced and not enough houses for families.
“We need to ensure that the community also understands the programs that are available to access the funding that’s currently available for first-time homebuyers,” Carrillo said..
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 8:33 PM.
