Only 18 votes separate candidates in Costa Mesa nail-biter

School board Trustee Katrina Foley, right, and former Councilman Jay Humphrey pose for a portrait at Foley's home in Costa Mesa on Wednesday. Foley remains solid atop the field of eight candidates in the Costa Mesa City Council election. Humphrey has the third most votes, slightly trailing Mayor Jim Righeimer.

By Bradley Zint

Nov. 5, 2014 5:53 PM PT

The race for the second open seat on the Costa Mesa City Council remained too close to call Wednesday night, with two candidates separated by a razor-thin margin for the second open seat.

Mayor Jim Righeimer held an 18-vote lead over former Councilman Jay Humphrey, a small change in the gap from Tuesday night, when Righeimer led by 21 votes.

Righeimer, first elected in 2010, has 5,416 votes. Humphrey, who served one term from 1990 to 1994, has 5,398.

The registrar will continue to count ballots, which could sway Costa Mesa’s election in either candidate’s favor. These include provisional and mail-in ballots that were returned at polling places, as well as some Election Day paper ballots.

An estimated 14,765 ballots were counted Wednesday, only 24 of which were applicable toward the Costa Mesa council tallies.

“I think that we’re gonna have to wait until the county has got all the votes done,” Humphrey said. “They apparently have not put a big dent in the number of votes they’re doing for Costa Mesa.”

Righeimer thanked his supporters and also complimented the top vote-getter, school Trustee Katrina Foley, for her victory and Humphrey for running a good campaign.

Humphrey said he feels good about his chances to catch up.

“I’m real comfortable waiting,” he said. “I feel real good, and I can be patient. The reality is the patience, ultimately, always pay off.”

The Orange County Registrar of Voters will update its results at 5 p.m. each weekday until the last official results are posted.

An estimated 135,540 ballots are still being counted countywide, according to the registrar. It is unclear how many of those tickets were cast in Costa Mesa.

Foley, a former councilwoman, garnered the most votes, 6,675, according to Wednesday’s registrar data.

In fourth place — though far behind Humphrey and Righeimer — is retired businessman Lee Ramos, who had 3,737 votes.

Rounding out the candidates were, in order of how they placed, is congressional aide Tony Capitelli, retired certified public accountant Al Melone, retired Automobile Club consultant Rita Simpson and sports agent Christopher Bunyan.