KRV candidates lead in school, health care and water races

Kern River Valley candidates led in local school, health care, water agency and community college races in the Nov. 3 election, according to unofficial results posted on KernVote.com. The results showed all precincts complete, but the county canvass and certification are still pending.

In the South Fork Union School District’s at-large race, voters could choose three candidates. Karrie Bunting led with 301 votes, followed by Daures Stephens with 298 and Brian “Tony” Cain with 278. Lisa Stephens received 258 votes, and Michael D. Morgan received 257.

Gene Parks Jr. and Deborah Hess led the four-candidate race for two Kern Valley Healthcare District board seats. Parks received 1,268 votes, or 31.68%, and Hess received 1,238, or 30.93%. Tawnya Torgl received 1,025 votes, and Ants Uiga received 471.

Incumbent Laura Cattani led Kernville resident Daneya Williams by 324 votes in the Kern County Water Agency Division 2 race. Cattani received 9,449 votes, or 50.87%, and Williams received 9,125, or 49.13%. Division 2 covers a broad area of eastern Kern County, and the race drew attention to issues involving the Kern River.

Christina Scrivner led Paula E. Bray in the Kern Community College District Trustee Area 2 race. Scrivner received 11,252 votes, or 56.33%, to Bray’s 8,722, or 43.67%. The district’s trustee map places Lake Isabella in Area 2.

Mary M. Little led the Kern County Board of Education Trustee Area 3 race with 7,658 votes, or 44.16%. Anastasia Hopper received 6,235 votes, or 35.95%, and Regina Velasquez received 3,450, or 19.89%.

Kern County’s deadline to certify election results is Dec. 3. The Secretary of State is scheduled to certify statewide results and publish its Statement of Vote by Dec. 11.