Election 2020: Brad Avery and Noah Blom maintain leads in Newport Beach City Council races
With 175,516 votes left to count in Orange County two days after Election Day, Newport Beach City Council candidates Brad Avery and Noah Blom maintained their leads over opponents Nancy Scarbrough and Jeff Herdman on Thursday evening.
In Newport Beach, council members represent districts but are voted for by the entire city. Seats up for election are in District 2, which includes Newport Heights/Cliffhaven and West Newport; District 5, which encompasses Balboa Island; and District 7, which represents Newport Coast. The last of the three races in District 7 is uncontested, with Mayor Will O’Neill securing 100% of the votes counted.
O’Neill said he likely joined many others refreshing the O.C. Registrar’s website once it hit 8 p.m. Tuesday, adding that the first races he looked at were of the city’s, before he turned his attention to the 48th Representative District, the 37th Senate District and the 74th Assembly District until about 1:30 a.m.
“Without parties to attend, this was a more mellow approach to cap election season,” O’Neill said.
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, Avery, the incumbent in District 2, is currently leading with 26,185 votes, or 59.99%. He’s ahead of Nancy Scarbrough, who currently has 17,462 votes, reflecting 40.01%.
As his path to another term narrowed sharply, President Trump sent in the lawyers Wednesday, seeking to stop or reverse vote counts in three battleground states.
Avery said he was thankful and happy about the results of the election to date, adding that he looked forward to serving the citizens of Newport Beach for another four years.
He said he was looking forward to helping the city recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially businesses, and ensuring that services continue to be offered to residents.
“It’s pretty simple stuff — I think [City] Council, in the last four years, we’ve been doing a good job and I want to help continue that. The council’s a body and I’m just a member, but I want to be the best member I can be,” said Avery.
He said he felt that his opponent, Scarbrough, was an effective campaigner and knowledgeable.
“It was a challenge and I respect her point of view,” said Avery. “I thought it was good to have the dialogue and I thought it was good for residents to see the dialogue.”
In District 5, it appears Blom may unseat incumbent Herdman with 58.76% of the votes (25,694). Herdman follows with 41.24% (18,031).
“We are extremely confident in our lead. It’s been trending up pretty consistently, so I don’t think anything’s going to change,” said Blom in an interview on Wednesday.
“I spent Election Night thanking pretty much everyone that has been involved, which was a lot of people. Teamwork makes the dream work,” Blom said. “We were excited. We were watching all the polls coming through. You know I think for us, the city is our biggest focus right now. We just want to keep Newport what it is.”
Blom said he has the “utmost respect” for those involved with city politics, adding that it takes “a lot of love, commitment and passion.”
Measure Z
The estimated 61,048 eligible voters in Newport Beach also weighed in Tuesday on whether or not to amend the city’s charter to establish the Harbor Commission as a city-appointed board and commission.
As of Thursday evening, voters said yes on Measure Z with 55.22% of the votes (23,936). The “no” votes are behind with 44.78% of the votes (19,412).
The presidential election has turned into a nail-biter. Will President Donald Trump serve a second term or will former Vice President Joe Biden become the next president? The waiting game has begun. Here are the latest headlines for our Orange County readers.
The Harbor Commission was established in 2002 to provide the city with an advisory board on the different uses of Newport Harbor and its waterfront. City staff said that it currently also serves as an appellate and reviewing body for decisions on permits and other administrative harbor-related affairs where current city code assigns that authority to the Harbor Commission.
It also can approve, conditionally approve or reject applications on all harbor permits where city code designates that authority.
It is a seven-person board, currently chaired by Bill Kenney, Jr.
Opponents of the measure have said that it is poorly written and unnecessary, while supporters argue that its addition to the city charter would protect the advisory board as it does the Planning, Arts, Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commissions.
Check dailypilot.com for continuing election coverage and results.
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