Vote counters move closer to final tally

One of two closely watched tax measures, Measure W, a half-cent sales tax for SamTrans and transportation improvements, inched even closer toward passage, earning 66.55 percent of the vote. Measure V further solidified its position with 67.73 percent of voters in support of the $298 parcel tax for the San Mateo-Foster City Elementary School District. Both require two-thirds approval, or 66.67 percent of the vote, to pass.

Leads established by Richa Awasthi in her race for the second of two open seats on the Foster City Council and Flor Nicolas in her race for the third of three open seats on the South San Francisco City Council persisted, with South San Francisco Councilman Pradeep Gupta is still appearing to fall short of re-election.

In Redwood City, Giselle Hale, who has 18.2 percent and a total of 11,716 votes, and Diane Howard, who has 17.1 percent and 11,006 total votes, have held onto their shares of the electorate. Reddy has 16.05 percent and 10,332 votes compared to Hunter's 15.89 percent and 10,228 votes, with 104 votes separating them.

In the Foster City Council contest, Sanjay Gehani led from the beginning and remains solidly the top vote getter with 26.81 percent and 4,940 total votes. Awasthi's lead narrowly slightly in the battle for the second open seat with this most recent update. She currently has 19.31 percent of the vote and 3,557 total votes and is followed by Patrick Sullivan, who has 18.29 percent of the vote and 3,369 total votes.

In the South San Francisco City Council race, results largely held from the last update with frontrunner incumbent Mark Addiego remaining the top vote getter, followed by challengers Mark Nagales and Nicolas respectively. Though he narrowed the gap between himself and Nicolas by five votes, incumbent Gupta remained in fourth place with 7,561 votes, behind Nicolas by 143 votes and Nagales by 497 votes.

Known as Measure II, the bond measure designed to finance reconstruction of the Millbrae Recreation Center made a slight gain to earn 62.45 percent of the vote, according to last count. It needs two-thirds approval to pass.

In Half Moon Bay, Robert Brownstone, who has 19.22 percent and 2,383 total votes, already clinched the third open seat over Virginia Turezyn, who has 15.85 percent and 1,965 total votes. Incumbents Deborah Penrose and Debbie Ruddock were the top two vote getters.

More than 260,000 ballots have been received so far. Of the ballots received, 242,722 have been counted. More results are scheduled to come out Saturday, Nov. 24, and on other days if needed.