A couple of early surprises in Lodi races
Nov. 5—A couple of upsets could be brewing in Lodi.
Political newcomers Lyndsy Davis and Victoria Lenderman took surprising early leads when the San Joaquin County Registrar released the first batch of results from Tuesday's election.
Davis, running for the Lodi City Council District 4 seat, had an eight-vote lead over incumbent Ramon Yepez, who is seeking re-election after being appointed to the post following the resignation of Shakir Khan, who was arrested and later pleaded no contest to election fraud charges stemming from the 2020 election.
However, Yepez surpassed Davis as results were updated throughout the evening, and was ahead with 38.76% (386) of the vote late Tuesday night, with Davis (36.35% 362) just 24 votes behind. Alexander Aliferis (248, 24.90%) was third.
Davis has been a fixture at council meetings over the last year, asking city officials to install more traffic safety measures on the Eastside.
Originally from Mountain View, Davis moved to Lodi a few years ago and said she is a strong and dedicated individual who has fought throughout her life to make things right.
Lenderman extended her lead over incumbent Gary Knackstedt in the Lodi Unified Board of Education Area 2 race, garnering 42.82% (2,278) of votes cast. Knackstedt is second (30.39%, 1,617) and Maia Aguirre is third (26.79%, 1,425).
As the parent of a student with special needs, Lenderman has spent many years advocating for improved services and resources in the classroom. She said that at every meeting, she is reminded her child is behind academically and the district does not have the resources, or a plan, to get him back on track.
A resident of Area 2 for more than 10 years, Lenderman is currently a manufacturing quality engineering manager with Cepheid. She said she wants to apply her experience in manufacturing, engineering, project management, risk management, and process improvement to district administration.
In the other school board contest, long-time incumbent Joe Nava (62.78%, 2,319) has a comfortable lead over Joseph Gardea (37.22%, 1,375).
In local state races, Democrat Jerry McNerney leads Republican Jim Shoemaker of Clements by a small margin in the 5th Senate District contest, with McNerney tallying 50.2% (90,843) of votes cast to Shoemaker's 49.8% (90,199).
In the 9th Assembly District, incumbent Heath Flora (70.1%, 74,082), R-Ripon, has a large lead over Lodi's Tami Nobriga (29.9%, 31,614).
In the 9th Congressional District race, incumbent Josh Harder, D-Tracy, is holding off Republican Kevin Lincoln, the mayor of Stockton. Harder has earned 50.8% (74,019) of the tally to Lincoln's 49.2% (71,792).
San Joaquin Delta College's Measure K, a $598 million bond proposal that would fund renovations at the 50-year-old Stockton campus, is passing with 57.4% (82,761) of voters supporting the measure. The measure needs 55% support to pass.
If is passes, the bond will be financed by an annual property tax of $16 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. School officials say the new tax would cost the typical property owner about $49 per year.
