Two incumbents and two first-time council candidates took leads in Santa Ana’s council race Tuesday night.
Valerie Amezcua holds a strong lead at 46% in her bid for re-election as Santa Ana mayor, with Daniel Shimell following. Incumbent Benjamin Vasquez has a dominating 72% of the vote in his run for re-election against opponent Selica Diaz, while council candidates Sandra De Anda and Isuri Ramos continue to hold the early leads they took, but by tighter margins.
Santa Ana voters are deciding whether to keep the city’s current leadership or make some changes that could shake up the seven-member council and its direction through 2030.
In the mayor’s race, incumbent Amezcua, the city’s first female mayor, faced challenges from attorney Dan Shimell and community development commissioner Dwayne Shipp.
Amezcua said late Tuesday night that she’s “humbled” by the opportunity “to serve” and thanked her supporters. “We cannot stop working to make Santa Ana the best place it can be.”
As the results continue to update through the coming week, Amezcua said she will be OK regardless of the outcome. “It doesn’t define who I am, I will always find a way to serve.”
The Ward 2 race saw incumbent Vazquez, a Valley High history teacher, challenged by Selica Diaz, a property manager turned real estate agent.
In Ward 4, incumbent Phil Bacerra, an urban planner, faced a challenge from De Anda, director of policy and legal strategy at the Orange County Rapid Response Network. De Anda leads with 53% of the vote.
Two first-time candidates have been campaigning for the Ward 6 seat: tenants’ attorney and housing commissioner Giovanni Chavez and nonprofit director and Planning Commission Chair Ramos. With Councilmember David Penaloza going all in for the 68th Assembly District race against his colleague, Councilmember Jessie Lopez, instead of seeking another term in Ward 6, this race guarantees a new face on the dais. Lopez has two years left on her term.
Ramos leads with 53% of the vote.
The OC Registrar of Voters will update results daily at 5 p.m., except weekends, until the counting is complete.