Politics & Government

Live Blog: Mayor Ward Responds to Initial Election Results

The polls are closed and both candidates and voters are anticipating the results. Check out the rundown of the day's events here.

The polls closed at 8 p.m. Refresh this page to see new updates.

9:55 p.m. Patch was not able to reach the following candidates by phone for comment: Bill Wilkins, Sherry McCoy, Gerard Boulanger, Dan Romero, Don Kuehne.

9:38 p.m. Patch contacted Mayor Joanne Ward for comment on incoming election results.

Find out what's happening in Pinole-Herculeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ward said she had not turned on her computer yet to check the results. When informed that 80 percent of voters favor the recall so far, Ward said she had no comment at this time. "We've been trying to retain our seats but not really knowing how that would work out," said Ward.

Ward said she plans to stay active in the community even if her position on the council is recalled. "I've always been active in the community," said Ward.

Find out what's happening in Pinole-Herculeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I've enjoyed living in the community and I've immensely enjoyed serving in the community in the ways that I have done that both on commissions as well as the city council," said Ward. "It has been my honor and privilege to be an active part of the Hercules community."

8:30 p.m. The mail-in votes are in...check them out http://patch.com/A-jgdW

8:10 p.m. "I have to say it would be really difficult if I had to vote in this election because it's really complicated and it's a really wild election," said Justin Jones, a Hercules High School 10th grader and Community Library and Services Commissioner about today's election. "I think the candidates who are being recalled had no intention of doing harm. The problem is that when you're a public official you're held at a higher standard than the average citizen," said Jones.

8:00 p.m. The polls are closed. The votes are being tallied and will be .

4:00 p.m. Cathy Ulanday, who brought her mail-in ballot to the Foxboro Community Center polling location, did not say which candidates she voted for, but said she was looking for "somebody who has had experience and who has been involved in the city...I don't just want somebody with an idea."

Ulanday said she grew up in the city but has been out of the loop in terms of knowing about its recent political struggles. She said her mother clued her in on a number of Hercules' political issues.

3:45 p.m. Voter Dean Karay was at the Victoria Green Community Room polling station and explained how "disturbed" he had been about the way the city council had been conducting itself. The financial stress Hercules is facing spells trouble for future development, according to Karay.

"I'm worried that the Amtrak station and the ferry terminal will get derailed," said Karay. .

3:33 p.m. The polls have been very quiet for the last couple of hours during the mid-afternoon lull, but we caught up with Alan Yeo, who voted in favor of the recall.

"The incumbents didn't do anything to prevent the things that went on in the past, so I guess it's time to start fresh," said Yeo. .

Yeo voted for Gerard Boulanger to take incumbent Don Kuehne's place. Yeo said that the alleged has not warped his attitude toward the candidate.

"He voices his opinion and I appreciate someone that will speak up for the little guy," said Yeo. 

1:30 p.m. In their most recent tally, the Contra Costa Elections Division counted 2,190 returned mail-in ballots out of 5,206 that were mailed to Hercules residents. The elections division, which is regularly open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., will close at 8 tonight because of the election. Their main line is 925-335-7800.

12 noon. Hercules resident Sharon Bolton said she made a special trip into the city today to vote, despite taking care of her sick mother in San Francisco. She said she felt bad that she hadn't been keeping up on city issues, but that after hearing bits and pieces about the city's financial troubles, Bolton felt compelled to come and vote for a city council recall. Bolton has lived in Hercules since 1989 and has seen the city change from a peaceful, quiet suburb to a more industrialised city. 

"Everything changes," said Bolton.

11:27 a.m. Bill McMillan is an inspector for precinct 12 at the Forest Park Club polling place. He says his polling place has received mostly mail-in ballots. McMillan expects the Forest Park Club polling place to possibly get 100 in-person signers, compared to between 200 and 250 absentee ballots. .

"As far as coming here to vote, it's going to be slow," said McMillan.

McMillan and his team started setting up at 6 a.m. this morning and expect to leave around 8:30 p.m.

"It's really a long day," said McMillan. 

11:03 a.m. In the last two Hercules City Council elections, more voters cast absentee ballots than filled out ballots at the polls.

Here are the percentages for the last three elections, going back to 2006:

Election Year Percent absentee ballots 2010 53.8 2008 50.1 2006 47.6

And here are the full results for those three elections:

2010 Choice Election Day Vote By Mail Total Percent KRIS VALSTAD 931 1,265 2,196 19.1% JOE EDDY MCDONALD 1,152 1,153 2,305 20.0% MYRNA L. DEVERA 1,593 1,860 3,453 30.0% JOHN J. DELGADO 1,634 1,894 3,528 30.7% WRITE-IN 5 13 18 0.2%  5,315  6,185  11,500 2008 Choice Election Day Vote By Mail Total Percent JOANNE WARD (I) 2,670 2,886 5,556 28.9% JOHN J. DELGADO 2,054 1,855 3,909 20.3% DONALD L. KUEHNE 1,843 2,092 3,935 20.4% ED BALICO 2,996 2,782 5,778 30.0% WRITE-IN 26 39 65 0.3% TOTALS  9,589  9,654  19,243 2006 Choice Election Day Vote By Mail Total Percent JOE EDDY MCDONALD 1,400 1,054 2,454 28.2% TREVOR EVANS-YOUNG 993 1,052 2,045 23.5% ED SHARP 941 892 1,833 21.1% KRIS VALSTAD 1,224 1,141 2,365 27.2% TOTALS 4,558 4,139 8,697

10:15 a.m. The Forest Park Club polling place is quiet. Poll workers say around 25 ballots have been cast so far today, some of which have been brought in.

"It's not an extreme turnout, unfortunately," commented one poll worker, who added that more voters are expected around lunchtime and after work.

9:40 a.m. Experiencing any problems at the polls? Let us know in the comments or email Editor Laila Kearney: laila.kearney@patch.com. Get in touch and follow the action via the Hercules Twitter feed or on the Hercules Facebook page.

Don't forget to upload your own pictures and videos!

9:20 a.m. Resident Thomas Wright stood along Sycamore Avenue waving a sign for Mark Anthony Jones, who is running for the vacant council seat. Wright explained why he favored Jones, citing his "character" and "integrity."

"He is a man of honesty," said Wright. .

9:15 a.m. Jeanette Forester, a five-year Herculean, said she went out to vote because she thinks there needed to be a "higher level of accountability" at City Hall. "I think that's what this election is all about," Forester, who did not want to disclose who she voted for, said.

9:10 a.m. City Council candidate Virgilio De La Vega and his wife Rosalind cast their votes their votes near Victoria Crecent. "I'm feeling some relief," De La Vega said about the fact that the election is drawing to a close. "I hope there's a good turnout" so that the majority of Hercules voters and their concerns about the state of the city are represented, he said.

8:50 a.m. Seven-year-resident Jeff Pollack, who cast his vote in person at the Victoria Green Community Center polling place, said he was "very concerned about the quality of the city that we have. I thought it was dishonest and incompetent."

Pollack said he voted for Dan Romero and William Wilkins due to the Contra Costa Times endorsement. He did not vote for Boulanger due to recent revelations about some of Boulanger's background. "To me, it's just more of the same thing," Pollack said.

Pollack sent a message to whoever is elected to council: "I will be watching because we're in a reall mess right now.

8 a.m. Pro-recall campaigners will be waving signs along Sycamore Avenue at San Pablo until 9 a.m. William Wilkins, who is running for Joanne Ward's seat, says he expects the recall to be overwhelmingly successful.

Sherry McCoy, who is running for the vacant city council seat, was waving at cars along with a handful of supporters. She declined to answer questions for Patch.

Read up on candidate bios and other election information and check out our list below of polling places and precincts below. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and look for our live election results after the polls close. And add your own election day pics with this article!

Precinct Location Address 38001 HERCULES BY THE BAY - CLUBHOUSE 1199 SANTA FE 38002 LUPINE HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - Multi-Use Room (Off Sycamore Ave) 1919 LUPINE ROAD 38004 LUPINE HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - Multi-Use Room (Off Sycamore Ave) 1919 LUPINE ROAD 38005 HERCULES COMMUNITY CENTER - Press Room 2001 REFUGIO VALLEY ROAD 38006 HERCULES COMMUNITY CENTER - Press Room 2001 REFUGIO VALLEY ROAD 38007 FOXBORO COMMUNITY CENTER 1025 CANTERBURY 38008 HANNA RANCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL -Multi-Purpose Room 2482 REFUGIO VALLEY ROAD 38009 HANNA RANCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL -Multi-Purpose Room 2482 REFUGIO VALLEY ROAD 38010 FOREST PARK CLUB CLUBHOUSE 1601 FOREST RUN 38011 HANNA RANCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL -Multi-Purpose Room 2482 REFUGIO VALLEY ROAD 38012 VICTORIA GREEN COMMUNITY ROOM 163 PARADISE DRIVE 38013 OHLONE COMMUNITY CENTER 190 TURQUOISE DRIVE 38018 VICTORIA GREEN COMMUNITY ROOM 163 PARADISE DRIVE 38019 VICTORIA GREEN COMMUNITY ROOM 163 PARADISE DRIVE 38020 OHLONE COMMUNITY CENTER 190 TURQUOISE DRIVE


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