Voting in Anaheim election decides mayor race, three council seats

Anaheim is guaranteed three new elected officials – two council members and a mayor – after all the votes in Tuesday’s election are counted, and a third council seat could change hands.

Four mayoral candidates were on the ballot – attorney Ashleigh Aitken, nonprofit CEO Lorri Galloway, Dick Lopez, a water systems operator at the city’s water treatment plant, and District 6 Councilman Trevor O’Neil. The seat has been vacant since Harry Sidhu resigned in May, more than four months before the end of his term. Whoever wins will likely be under pressure to increase transparency at City Hall and work to rebuild trust with residents after an embarrassing scandal involving alleged corruption and outside influences at work in City Hall.

In District 2, which covers the southwestern part of Anaheim, appointed Councilwoman Gloria Sahagun Ma’ae is vying with business development manager Carlos Leon to win a four-year term on the council.

One of two candidates in District 3 will replace Councilman Jose Moreno, who is termed out: Anaheim Union High School District Trustee Al Jabbar and Orange County Business Council Chief Operating Officer Natalie Rubalcava. The district covers a northwestern swath of the city and includes downtown and City Hall.

The District 6 seat representing Anaheim Hills is also open, since O’Neil, the incumbent, is running for mayor. Consumer advocate attorney Hari Lal and retired city public works director Natalie Meeks were seeking to take O’Neil’s place on the dais.

And another change could be coming: District 4 Councilman Avelino Valencia is in a runoff for a state Assembly seat, so if he wins, his council seat would open up and the council would likely appoint someone to fill the last two years of his term.

Anaheim’s next mayor and council will face the continuing issues of getting more housing built and addressing homelessness, reducing the city’s debt burden, delivering more everyday services to residents, and deciding the long-term future of Angel Stadium.

Source: Orange County Register