Leads grow for Perez, Parlier in supervisor races

Updated election results show leads increasing for Kern County Board of Supervisors candidates Leticia Perez and Chris Parlier even as additional results are expected.

The latest update from the Kern County Elections Divisions at 3:20 a.m. Wednesday had Perez, a Democrat, leading in her District 5 race with 51.7% of the vote and Parlier, a Republican, leading in District 2 with 37.7%.

Perez, the District 5 supervisor since 2013, could not be reached for comment Wednesday but Tuesday night told The Californian she was confident she would win her race.

Her opponent, fellow Democrat Kim Salas — a staffer to Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains — did not return multiple requests for comment.

Results show Perez with 8,390 votes and Salas with 7,821. Elections division spokesperson Adam Clark could not say how many ballots remained to be counted, but said a report on processed and unprocessed ballots would be delivered to the Secretary of State's office Thursday.

The next update to election results will be released at the end of the day Friday, Clark said.

In District 2's six-way race, Parlier had a total of 10,898 votes with fellow Republican Dale Cisneros as the next highest vote-getter with 7,821.

"If everything pans out I'm extremely excited to represent the citizens of District 2," Parlier told The Californian Wednesday.

If elected, Parlier said public safety, infrastructure and protecting local industries would be his top priority.

A former Bakersfield City Council member, Parlier said he had a working relationship with the other sitting supervisors.

"I think across the board I have a good relationship with all of them," Parlier said. "

Speaking to The Californian Wednesday, Cisneros said even though he didn't come in first, he was feeling good about his campaign.

"I came in as a newcomer and I challenged the politicians," Cisneros said. "I challenged the system when I came in and presented a true message. It resonated with the people and the people stood with me."

Cisneros said he questioned how much Parlier would be able to do for the district, citing the former council member's late entry into the race.

Coming in third in the race was retired educator and lone Democrat in the race Bernita Jenkins, with 15.4%, or 5,128 votes. Jenkins could not be reached for comment Wednesday but told The Californian on Election Night she was watching as additional results come in.

Former atmospheric scientist and Stallion Springs Ben Dewell came in fourth with 10.8% or 3,606 votes, said he was "not unpleased" to see Parlier in the lead.

"I do believe he is qualified and responsible for the seat," Dewell said.

Though confident in Parlier, Dewell said he was concerned that a Bakersfield-based candidate would not be able deliver for the mostly rural communities in the district.

Rosamond Municipal Advisory Council member Kelly Carden Jr., who garnered 10.6%, or 3,529 votes, said Wednesday he was happy to have finished over the 10% mark and that he called Parlier that morning to congratulate him.

Carden said he developed a relationship with Parlier over the course of the campaign, and was hopeful he would be able to work with him on rural issues.

"I'm confident that the relationship that I have with him will be an improvement over the last administration," Carden said.

Former Tehachapi police officer Pete Graff did not return request for comment Wednesday, but said Tuesday night he was waiting for the final outcome. Latest results showed Graff in last place with 8.5% or 2,823 votes.

Multiple District 2 candidates spoke favorably of all their colleagues in the race, and thanked them and members of the public for participating.