Two in runoff for supervisor

Horsley netted 23,980 votes, or 38.6 percent, followed by coastside businesswoman and activist April Vargas who brought in 15,069 votes, or 24.2 percent.

Horsley wasn’t surprised by the need for a runoff because of the crowded field and said he looks "forward to having a vigorous debate” on the issues.

Vargas, too, said a narrower field lets voters better distinguish between herself and Horsley.

"I’ve always had my mind set on winning this race and if it takes until November, I’m ready,” Vargas said.

Rounding out the five-way race, Libertarian and frequent candidate Jack Hickey, 75, received 10,105 votes (16.3 percent) San Carlos Councilman Matt Grocott, 51, received 8,757 votes (14.1 percent) and self-proclaimed court advocate Michael Stogner received 4,243 votes (6.8 percent).

The lack of any one candidate getting more than 50 percent of the vote means Horsley, 66, and Vargas, 60, will square off in November to represent District 3. The district includes the coastside, Redwood Shores, San Carlos, Woodside, Portola Valley, Atherton and the unincorporated areas around Menlo Park. While candidates must hail from the specific district, they are elected by voters countywide.

In the less competitive race for the District 2 supervisorial seat, appointed Supervisor Carole Groom, 65, easily beat out Belmont resident Daniel Kaul. Kaul was on the ballot but essentially stopped campaigning in the last weeks. District 2, which includes the cities of Belmont, San Mateo and Foster City.

Groom said being elected rather than appointed definitely makes a difference — "You bet it does!” she said — although she believes she was the best candidate then, too.

"I’m happy enough people think I’m doing a good enough job,” Groom said.

But while Groom’s race was contested, it was far overshadowed by the competition for District 2. The Board of Supervisors has not had a contested race for an open seat in 13 years and, once seated, winning candidates tend to remain in office for the full 12 years allowed under term limits.

Horsley began campaigning for the seat currently held by termed-out Supervisor Rich Gordon long before the others — some would say even before he retired as sheriff. His war chest grew into the hundreds of thousands of dollars while on the other end of the candidate spectrum Grocott was a last-minute entry who amassed just more than $6,000, according to the last campaign finance statements. Vargas ran a grassroots campaign, banking on endorsements like that of the Democratic Central Committee and raising just more than $65,000. Vargas, who lives in Montara, said she wanted to give the coastside a greater voice on the board and noted four decades have passed since a resident has served as supervisor.

With that in mind, Vargas said victory is not out of reach.

"We have the potential to make this good,” she said.

She wants to work with the private sector to bring more jobs to the county and look at restructuring labor costs to help tackle the county’s structural deficit.

Horsley wants to reduce management, develop a green-tech master plan, roll back pensions for public safety employees and tax airport car rentals.

The candidates never changed position during election night although percentages shifted. Regardless, some like Grocott were not ready to concede until the final vote.

And as for another turn before voters?

"You never can say,” Grocott said.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102.