FAIRFIELD The Solano County Board of Supervisors received the certified results Tuesday of Gregory Ritchie II winning the Vacaville City Council special election.
Ritchie was the top vote-getter among three candidates seeking the District 2 seat, which Mitch Mashburn vacated when he was elected an
FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
Theresa Ives, left, and Jordan Bhanji mark ballots received at the Solano County Registrar of Voters office in Fairfield, Tuesday, May 4, 2021. A special election in Vacaville was held to fill the City Council seat vacated by Mitch Mashburn s election to the Solano County Board of Supervisors. (Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic)
Ritchie leads way in Vaca special election
VACAVILLE Gregory Ritchie II was on his way Tuesday to securing a seat on the City Council after a special election in the newly established District 2.
Ritchie had 43.63% of the vote as of 10 p.m., the Solano County Elections Office reported. Joe Desmarais had 30.72%, with Curtis Hunt trailing with 25.55%.
Field set for Vacaville District 2 special council election
Joe Desmarais, Curtis Hunt and Gregory Ritchie qualified for the May 4 special election ballot.
Each viewed the city’s and district’s top priorities a little differently.
“The biggest issues I see facing Vacaville are opening up our small businesses and schools as soon as possible to help us protect our kids’ futures and to jumpstart our local economy,” Desmarais said in an email response to a Daily Republic question.
Hunt, in a phone interview, indicated traffic congestion, and other issues, related to development within the district, such as the Leisure Town Road area, and specifically a need for a “citizen-approved” land-use plan for the Green Tree Golf Course property.
Last week for Vacaville District 2 candidates to file
The special election is scheduled May 4.
There has been no new interest shown for the post since the initial five candidates took out papers during the first week the filing period opened.
Curtis Hunt, a former Vacaville councilman, filed his papers and has qualified for the ballot, according to the Solano County Registrar of Voters.
Two others, Gregory Ritchie II and Joe Desmarais, had filed their papers, but it was determined by the Elections Office that they needed additional signatures.
Vacaville City Clerk Michelle Thornbrugh said Monday that the other two individuals who took out papers – Balraj Saprai and Marc Yu – have not returned them, nor have they contacted her office about their intentions.
5th candidate pulls papers for Vaca special election
Balraj Sapral pulled his candidacy papers Wednesday.
The filing period opened Monday and closes Feb. 5.
Sapral joins Joe Demarais, Curtis Hunt, Gregory Ritchie and Mark Yu as others who have taken out candidacy papers.
Demarais, Ritchie and Yu each pulled papers Monday. Hunt, a former councilman, took out his papers Tuesday.
The election is scheduled May 4.
Related Printed in the January 14, 2021 edition on page A3 | Published on January 14, 2021 | Last Modified on January 14, 2021 at 2:12 am
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CalMatters Todd R. Hansen is Reporter-Editor for the Daily Republic. He covers Solano County, Transportation, the Environment and General Assignment. Reach him at 427-6932 or [email protected]