San Joaquin County Supervisor Tom Patti and longtime educator Christina Fugazi appear to be potentially headed to a November runoff election in the race to be Stockton’s next mayor, based on an early vote tally from Tuesday’s election.
As of the unofficial results late Tuesday, Patti had 5,637 votes (34.29 percent) while Fugazi had 3,949 votes (24.02 percent).
Other contenders in the race included Dan Wright, who has served the city for 31 years as an educator and councilmember; Shakeel Ahmad, a businessman; Jesus Andrade, a nonprofit director and former city councilman; and Jessica Velez, founder of a nonprofit helping with homeless outreach.
In order to be elected as mayor in the primary election, a candidate must receive a majority of the votes. If no one receives a majority, a runoff election will be held Nov. 5 with the top two vote-getters.
At a forum last month, Fugazi said she believed Stockton’s quality of life is not what it used to be, and people are getting less but paying more.
“So, my hope is that we can change that trajectory, and really be focused on quality-of-life issues,” Fugazi said.
Last year, while Fugazi was the assistant principal at Edison High School, she was placed on administrative leave and months later was reinstated. However, she was relocated to Stagg High School.
She did not respond to comment last month about why she was put on leave or how she became reinstated.
Patti at the same forum stated that he was running for mayor because he is someone who produces results.
“We’ve tackled the issues in the county, extended our budget by a billion dollars, cutting bureaucracy and facilitating success. That’s what I’ll do as your mayor,” Patti said.
While serving on the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors, Patti was one of two who voted in opposition to have the commemorative Pride flag flown at the County Administration Building in Stockton.
“I cannot support an alternate flag since our (American) flag represents freedom, liberty and opportunity for all,” Patti said. “I think our American flag flies high and proud as is.”
Supes seat faceoff
The unofficial election results Tuesday night showed one incumbent appearing to hold onto his seat on the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors.
Supervisor Robert Rickman faced off with Tracy Mayor Nancy Young and retired schoolteacher Wes Huffman to represent District 5, which covers Escalon, Ripon, Tracy, and Mountain House.
Rickman as of Tuesday night had 52.99 percent of the votes, while Young had 31.13 percent and Huffman had 15.87 percent.
District 1 and 3 supervisor candidates will possibly head to a runoff election in November.
District 1 covers South Stockton and unincorporated areas near the city and is currently represented by board chair Miguel Villapudua.
San Joaquin County native and third-generation firefighter Mario Gardea; Lilliana Udang, who is a Stockton native and is district director for state Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman; Terence West, a San Joaquin County community services director; businessman and electrical contractor Mark Stebbins; and Chris Rouppet, who currently serves as chief of staff for Villapudua, were running for the seat.
Early election results showed Gardea taking a large lead with 41.76 percent with 2,335 votes.
Rouppet was behind with 19.01 percent and 1,063 votes, while Udang, Stebbins, and West followed with between 10-17 percent of the votes apiece.
District 3 serves the areas of Lathrop, Manteca and Stockton and is currently represented by Patti.
Contenders in the race included Angel Sepulveda, an insurance company owner; Sonny Dhaliwal, who has served Lathrop for 25 years and is now in his sixth two-year term as mayor; and Steve DeBrum, who served on the Manteca City Council for 15 years and was mayor.
Dhaliwal was at 5,253 votes with 46.64 percent and DeBrum held 4,248 votes with 37.72 percent, according to preliminary election results.
