Two Half Moon Bay City Council members seeking reelection were behind their challengers in early results after polls closed Tuesday night, while paralegal Susie Morasci took a lead ahead of labor leader Steven Booker for the open District 5 seat.
Planning Commission Chair David Gorn was ahead of Councilmember Robert Brownstone for the District 1 seat. Retired geologist Ron Kies held a lead versus Mayor Debbie Ruddock to represent District 4.
The tallies include vote-by-mail ballots received in the mail or returned to vote centers and drop boxes on or before Friday, and some vote center ballots.
The most talked-about issues in this race have been affordable housing, preserving the city’s small-town character, emergency preparedness, fiscal stability, and urgent health care access.
The topic of 555 Kelly — a proposed five-story, 40-unit affordable housing complex for senior farmworkers in downtown Half Moon Bay — has divided the town and City Council candidates. Supporters have underscored the need for dignified housing for the coastside’s farmworkers, while others raise concerns over the size and location of the project.
District 1
Early results show that Gorn was ahead with 66.2% of the vote against Brownstone, who is seeking reelection and has served on the council for two terms.
The two shared similar visions for the town, emphasizing the need to bring an urgent care clinic to Half Moon Bay and achieve fiscal stability.
However, Brownstone is a strong supporter of 555 Kelly. While Gorn previously approved the Coastal Development Permit for 555 Kelly on the Planning Commission, he thinks the developers neglected the concerns of residents and remains concerned about its size and location.
District 1 covers the northeastern section of Half Moon Bay from Highway 92 up toward the Miramar area, bordered by Highway 1.
District 4
Preliminary results show that Kies tallied about 60.7% of the vote in the race against Ruddock, who has served on the council for more than two decades.
Ruddock voted against approving the ground lease for 555 Kelly, arguing that the language in the agreement did not protect the city’s interests and that the financial model for the project could be unsustainable.
Kies, on the other hand, has raised concerns that not moving 555 Kelly forward could lead to further litigation down the road if Half Moon Bay doesn’t meet its housing goals from the state.
District 4 spans the southern end of Half Moon Bay from Poplar and Seymour streets to the Ritz-Carlton hotel.
District 5
Vice Mayor Deborah Penrose decided to not seek reelection, opening up one seat that two newcomers are fighting for — Booker and Morasci.
Early results showed Morasci slightly ahead with 57.4% of the vote against Booker.
Booker is a fervent supporter of 555 Kelly, while Morasci has criticized the size and location. The proposed site is in District 5 at a central commercial area downtown.
District 5 covers the downtown area, bordered by Highway 92, Highway 1 and Grove Street.
Updates to the tallies were expected each hour on election night until all ballots cast at vote centers have been reported.
Post-Election Day results will be released before 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and additional days the following week.
