Harmon beats Marx for SLO Mayor
LATEST UPDATE:
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Incumbent mayor Jan Marx led in the count, until the very end.
On the last day of counting by the San Luis Obispo County Elections office, challenger Heidi Harmon moved ahead of Marx to win the office of San Luis Obispo County mayor. The final tally put Harmon 47 votes ahead of Marx.
In successive counts since election night, Marx maintained a shrinking lead over her challenger. On Wednesday, the county processed a final batch of more than 2,000 ballots. That count moved Harmon into the lead. Votes counted Wednesday were the final batch to be processed by county elections officials.
Marx told a reporter before the vote was announced she was ‘at peace’ regardless of the outcome. Harmon is out of town, and will be interviewed live via phone on KCOY 12 Central Coast Local News at 5:00 p.m.
Harmon released this statement within the hour:
“I want to thank Jan Marx for her decades of service to this community.
This campaign could not have succeeded without the countless volunteers and supporters that put in so much time and effort and to them I give my heartfelt gratitude. Today I will be busy working toward a bright and prosperous future for our community, I invite every resident to join me.
I hope to inspire all resident to be engaged locally. Whether it’s showing up to city council meetings, becoming involved in one of the city’s numerous boards and oversight committees, drafting petitions for city action or supporting those that do, your voice is important and powerful. Together we can truly make a difference.
I am here to better this community and together there is nothing we cannot achieve.
Heidi will hold a press conference on Monday the 28th at 4:00 p.m in front of City Hall. All are invited and welcome.
A victory party will be held on Saturday December 3. Details to be announced soon.”
STORY POSTED AT 3:50 PM:
Challenger Heidi Harmon took a 47-vote lead over incumbent mayor Jan Marx in the race for the city’s top job. Results just released from San Luis Obispo County’s election office showed Harmon taking the lead after closing the gap in votes since Election Day. Marx led in every prior count until the results released just before 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
Marx said she would accept the results regardless of the outcome. Harmon has not yet been reached for comment.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Voters in San Luis Obispo should know the final results of the city’s race for mayor just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Incumbent SLO Mayor Jan Marx has been leading in the vote count since election night, but challenger Heidi Harmon has narrowed the race to 213 votes in results counted before Wednesday.
San Luis Obispo County Elections Director Tommy Gong said 2,508 ballots remained to be counted as of Wednesday morning. His goal is to complete that count which would complete the unofficial tally. The election results still require certification.
This year, SLO County residents requested 120,000 mail-in ballots, the most ever.
Marx said she will be at peace with the final results, whatever the outcome. Harmon has not responded to requests for comment.
