All mail-in and election day ballots counted, bulk of provisional ballots counted, only about 300 countywide remain to be counted, only about 30 for Benicia, not enough to affect the outcome.
By Roger Straw, November 16, 2022
Wednesday’s count of provisional ballots at our Solano County Registrar of Voters did not affect the final outcome of Benicia’s City Council race. Frontrunners Terry Scott and Kari Birdseye maintained a solid lead, and are now assured victory.
Today’s Preliminary Results (click image to enlarge)
Click image to enlarge. Source: Solano County Registrar of Voters.
Yesterday, Nov 15
Today, Nov 16
Scott: 5,613 votes, 24.74%
Scott: +29 votes = 5,642votes,
24.77%
Birdseye: 5,391 votes, 23.76%
Birdseye: +23 votes = 5,414 votes, 23.77%
Largaespada: 5,243 votes, 23.11%
Largaespada: +17 votes = 5,260 votes, 23.09%
Strawbridge: 4,793 votes, 21.13%
Strawbridge: +17 votes = 4,810 votes, 21.11%
Innes: 1,645 votes, 7.25%
Innes: +10 votes = 1,655 votes,
7.26%
Scott’s lead over Birdseye increased today by 6 from 222 to 228. Birdseye’s lead over Largaespada increased by 6 from 148 to 154.
Votes outstanding (click image to enlarge)
Click image to enlarge. Source: Solano County Registrar of Voters.
ALL mail-in ballots have now been counted. Another 322 or so provisional ballots – countywide – must be counted. Benicia is typically about 10% of total Solano votes, so there are perhaps 30 or so provisional ballots for Benicia, clearly not enough to change any of the final results. This election race is over for sure!
The Registrar of Voters expects to certify the final result by November 30.
If you possibly can, be at the meeting tonight:
Community Open House @ Northgate Church
2201 Lake Herman Road TONIGHT! November 16, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
With apologies for this terribly short notice (many of us have been really busy with elections) – I call your attention to an important meeting TONIGHT.
Click to go to 2008 citizen study, archived at rogerstraw.com
The City is sponsoring a community Open House to inform the public and get input from us on planning for the future of the Seeno property. Some of you Benicia Resisters recall the several struggles in recent years to stop the Seeno family from its disastrous development plans. I have heard that City officials are in communication with the Seenos, and that one or more senior Benicia officials believe that development is “inevitable.”
The North Study Area visioning project aims to solicit public input on potential future land use options for the North Study Area property. Community input, together with an economic analysis and evaluation of the property conditions, will be used to develop several mixed-use concepts for further public review. Once completed, the landowner may determine whether to move forward with initiating land use applications which must include a “Master Plan” (i.e., Specific Plan) as required by the Benicia General Plan and Zoning Ordinance.
The study area is a 527-acre undeveloped property in the northeast corner of the city. The property is within the City’s urban growth boundary and fronts on Lake Herman Road and East Second Street. Although a number of site development proposals have been considered over the years, most recently in 2016, none have come to fruition. The property is currently zoned Limited Industrial (IL) and General Commercial (CG).
Visioning Process
The City wants to partner with the community to envision the future of this area, which is the last remaining large tract of privately-owned undeveloped land within Benicia.
There will be a variety of opportunities to learn more about this effort and to provide feedback over the coming year. The City will solicit public input through a series of community meetings, public events, and on-line engagement opportunities. To receive the latest updates, you can sign up for project email notifications here. The City expects to complete the visioning process by late 2023.
The North Study Area Community-Led Visioning Process is divided into the following primary tasks:
Existing Conditions Review: Review of background materials and existing conditions information relevant to the visioning process.
Economic Analysis: Analysis of real estate market conditions, financial feasibility of land use alternatives, and net annual fiscal impacts of land use alternatives.
Issues and Options: Evaluation of key issues and options associated with development options.
Mixed-use Concepts: Consideration of alternative land use concepts for the property.
Summary Report: Summary of public input received and areas of consensus that emerged from the visioning process.
Advisory Group
The City has formed an advisory group for the North Study Area project to help distribute information about the project, provide feedback on project materials, and to bring together diverse community perspectives. The advisory group consists of one representative selected by each of the following City committee/commissions and community organizations. Meetings are open to the public.
City Committees/Commissions:
City Council Subcommittee for the North Study Area (2 members)
Mail-in ballots all but complete, counting of provisional ballots began today.
By Roger Straw, November 15, 2022
As expected, Tuesday’s count of additional mail-in ballots at our Solano County Registrar of Voters did not affect the likely final outcome of Benicia’s City Council race. Frontrunners Terry Scott and Kari Birdseye maintained a solid lead.
Today’s Preliminary Results
Click image to enlarge. Source: Solano County Registrar of Voters.
Scott has 5,613 votes, 24.74%
Birdseye has 5,391 votes, 23.76%
Largaespada has 5,243 votes, 23.11%
Strawbridge has 4,793 votes, 21.13%
Innes has 1,645 votes, 7.25%
By the numbers – note day-by-day vote margins at right…
Click image to enlarge. Source: BenIndy, numbers from Solano County Registrar of Voters.
Scott’s lead over Birdseye decreased today by one from 223 to 222. Birdseye’s lead over Largaespada increased from 142 to 148.
Votes outstanding…
Click image to enlarge. Source: Solano County Registrar of Voters.
Unless there are any surprises, ALL mail-in ballots have now been counted. Another 1,012 or so provisional ballots – countywide – must be counted. Benicia is typically about 10% of total Solano votes, so there are perhaps 100 more provisional ballots for Benicia. The Registrar of Voters expects to certify the final result by November 30.
Scott and Birdseye distancing from incumbents, will be sworn in on December 6
By Roger Straw, November 14, 2022
As expected, Monday’s count of additional mail-in ballots at our Solano County Registrar of Voters increased the leads by frontrunners Terry Scott and Kari Birdseye.
Many have presumed the race is over. But on Friday, incumbent Councilmember Lionel Largaespada conceded on his Facebook page, and both the Benicia Herald and this Benicia Independent called the race for Scott and Birdseye. (I read somewhere that Christina Strawbridge conceded, but I am unable to confirm it.)
By the numbers – the lead increased each day…
Scott’s lead over Birdseye has remained pretty much equal, increasing only from 209 to 223.
Birdseye’s lead over Largaespada has increased from only 42 to 112, and tonight to 142.
Ballots still outstanding…
All but approximately 250 mail-in ballots have been counted. Another 1,671 or so provisional ballots must be counted. The Registrar of Voters expects to certify the final result by November 30.
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