Welcome to Novato Patch’s Election Night update for the Novato City Council race.
It’s an exciting night for the candidates and their supporters, who have logged many hours on the campaign trail for the past few months. Congratulations to all the candidates — incumbents Madeline Kellner and Jeanne MacLeamy along with challengers Manny Fernandez, Jerome Ghigliotti, Eric Lucan, Leslie Peterson Schwarze and Eleanor Sluis — for working so hard to state their platforms and for their willingness to serve in a mostly thankless capacity on our behalf.
This story will be updated and saved regularly until all precincts are reported by the Marin County registrar’s office. We’ll not only check in with the candidates to hear how they’re feeling about, but we’ll also upload photos from campaign parties around town as they are sent to Novato Patch. Anybody with a camera at one of those get-togethers can send shots to brent.ainsworth@patch.com or upload them directly to this story.
If you’re interested in watching election results from all races in the county, you can refresh the election returns regularly by clicking here.
UPDATES
10:52 p.m. — Jerome Ghigliotti, who finished fourth in the unofficial voting: “It has been my opinion that the council should heed the electorate. It seems that the electorate has returned affirmation of the continuation of current council policies.”
10:51 p.m. — Madeline Kellner, on Jeanne MacLeamy: "I look forward to serving with her for another four years. She’s a good colleague. Her heart and head in are in the right place."
10:42 p.m. — Madeline Kellner, reached at a party at : "I’m happy. I had a lot of wonderful supporters here tonight, and wonderful supporters in Novato. I’m looking forward to serving the city another four years. ... I think the message is that we still need a steady hand in our city to get us through these continuing challenging times. I think I bring that steady hand."
10:26 p.m. — With 30 of 30 precincts reporting: Lucan 4303 (21.6%), MacLeamy 3974 (20%), Kellner 3555 (17.9%), Peterson Schwarze 3469 (17.4%), Ghigliotti 2000 (10.1%), Sluis 1347 (7.7%), Fernandez 1015 (5.1%).
10:16 p.m. — With 21 of 30 precincts reporting: Lucan 3731 (21.4%), MacLeamy 3482 (20%), Kellner 3089 (17.8%), Peterson Schwarze 3065 (17.6%), Ghigliotti 1761 (10.1%), Sluis 1536 (7.7%), Fernandez 895 (5.1%).
10 p.m. —Jeanne MacLeamy, on Eric Lucan: "I think it would be wonderful to have Eric on the council. Not only is he a bright young man, but I think he has the background that could really be of help to us as we go forward the the challenges we have.”
9:47 p.m. — With 18 of 30 precincts reporting: Lucan 3542 (21.4%), MacLeamy 3320 (20%), Peterson Schwarze 2937 (17.7%), Kellner 2932 (17.3%), Ghigliotti 1664 (10%), Sluis 1295 (7.8%), Fernandez 861 (5.2%)
9:34 p.m. — Leslie Peterson Schwarze: “I don’t think appropriate to comment … it’s too close."
9:22 p.m. — Numbers keep getting updated, but not for the Novato races.
9:07 p.m. —Jeanne MacLeamy, from a gathering at her Pacheco Valle home: “I’m very pleased … I’d be very honored to serve another term if I stay as one of the top three. It’s been kind of confirmed for me over the years that what voters are looking for are people who don’t have an agenda, who a really just trying to deal with the issues that come before them in a very practical way, listening to folks and then coming up with solutions that are best for the city overall. I’m heartened that the voters seem to acknowledge my service and I’d be pleased to be able to serve again if that’s what they’d like me to do.
8:22 p.m. — Eric Lucan, from his campaign party at : “I’m ecstatic. We’ve got this place packed tonight. We’re all hovered around the computer. I announced the results and everyone cheered. Now we’re just watching for the updates. I feel good … I want to see it through. Meantime, we’re enjoying good friends and family here.”
8:10 p.m. — First results in, with five of 30 precincts reporting: Lucan 2811, MacLeamy 2701, Kellner 2367, Peterson Schwarze 2267, Ghigliotti 1334, Sluis 1056, Fernandez 714
8:03 p.m. — As usual, there's some lag time getting the first results posted ... Pins and needles ...
7:48 p.m. — Minutes away from the first results of the night ...
7 p.m. — This should be fun. I participated in two council candidate debates — one as a moderator and one as a questioner — and I can’t imagine what it’s like being in their shoes. I bet it will be a huge relief for all candidates to get through tonight, win or lose.
