Santa Barbara City Council District 1 race too close to call

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Santa Barbara's First District City Council race is a nail-biter.

Incumbent Jason Dominguez had a 31-vote lead on election night with 1,179 mail-in votes counted. The attorney and former war crimes prosecutor received 563 votes or 48.12 percent of the votes.

Alejandra Gutierrez, a community organizer and educator, had 532 votes or 45.47 percent of the votes on election night.

Cruzito Herrera Cruz received 68 votes, or 5.81 percent, of the early votes released. This was the income tax preparer's sixth run for city council.

Dominguez celebrated his lead with his pregnant wife by his side at Uncorked in Santa Barbara. Their first child is due in January when he hopes to be sworn in for a second term.

"We're going to win this campaign and I am going to keep speaking out," said Dominguez.

Gutierrez celebrated the close race at a party hosted by the local Democratic party at Casablanca restaurant.

"I have a real chance of winning, I feel very confident," said Gutierrez.

A courier will pick up the remaining ballots at city hall on Wednesday morning and take them to Norwalk to be counted.

The final tally should be released on Friday.