allahassee, Florida, has the whole world's attention right now, but Atherton has its own nail-biter of an election. While real estate attorney James Janz looks to have a lock on one City Council seat, the race for the second seat is still too close to call.
On election day, candidate Kathy McKeithen, a corporate attorney, edged out businessman Charles Marsala by 24 votes, but until the San Mateo County elections office finishes counting its mountain of absentee ballots, the race is just too close to call.
Bill Jackson, manager of San Mateo County's elections department, said that the tally of absentee and provisional ballots will likely take until the end of this week to complete.
Mr. Marsala said he's optimistic about his chances of winning the seat, and he's still got a house full of election night decorations he can't take down yet.
"The champagne's still sitting in its tub," he said.
The unofficial election day returns for Atherton's council race put Mr. Janz in the lead with 1,670 votes. Ms. McKeithen came in second with 1,455 votes, closely followed by Mr. Marsala with 1,431. Bob Jenkins, a consultant and real estate broker, came in fourth with 1,182 votes.
Mr. Jackson of the county elections department said the high voter turnout left the county with an unusually large number of absentee and provisional ballots to count. He initially predicted the election results would be ready by Tuesday, November 14.
Mr. Marsala, who campaigned as "New Energy for Atherton," said he's actually sort of enjoying the wait for election results, since it mirrors the national political scene.
"I feel like I'm still campaigning. I'm just sitting at the bar with Al and W.," he joked.
Whether or not he is elected, he said he will remain involved in Atherton, lobbying to increase funding for the police department, putting a community resource officer back at M-A High School, and rebuilding residents' confidence in town management.
Ms. McKeithen could not be reached for comment by the Almanac's press deadline.
Mr. Janz credits his background as a former Atherton Planning Commission member for his first place showing in the council election.
"I think people saw me as the most qualified candidate, the one with the appropriate background and education, and substantial experience working for the town," he said. "In voting for me, people were voting for a known quantity."
Mr. Jenkins said that absentee ballots aren't likely to change the outcome enough to put him on the council, but he's hopeful that his slate partner, Ms. McKeithen, will hold onto her lead over Mr. Marsala. Regardless of the outcome, he said he will stay closely involved in Atherton's city government as a member of its Audit Committee.
Mr. Jenkins and Ms. McKeithen ran on a platform of reforming Atherton's management practices.
