First-time candidates leading in local election

Two Imperial Valley candidates said they didn’t start serving the community around elections time – they’ve doing it for years.

Brawley School Board Candidate Gilbert Rebollar said, “I was involved in the community before the election. I was involved during the campaign. I’m going to continue to be involved. I’m the same guy. I have a six-year-old daughter who is in first grade in our public school system, which is the motivating force why I decided to run.”

Superior Court Judge Candidate Monica Lepe-Negrete said, “I’ve been very proactive and very conscious about wanting to be part of the community since the very beginning.”

They said community validated their efforts on Tuesday by putting them at the top of their individual races. Rebollar is ahead by five points.

“I bring a parent perspective to that board and there’s some big decisions that the board will be making, such as hiring a new superintendent. And I believe my perspective as a parent can only benefit the board,” Rebollar said.

Lepe-Negrete is 15 points ahead in her race.

“When you have a proven track record of giving back. And like I said, involving myself in the community from the very beginning,” Lepe-Negrete said.

David Romero, a candidate for the Calexico City Council, is leading by a slight margin over the other candidates. He said it’s time for new blood to take over the city.

“I think it’s crucial for us to start recreating our commerce and I think it’s important for us to start creating that foundation here at City Hall,” Romero said.

But Joong Kim, also a Calexico City Council candidate, who is trailing Romero only by a slight margin, said it’s not over till it’s over.

“I’m very thankful for my supporters and we’re still in counting,” Kim said.

The Registrar of Voters is releasing another unofficial election result on Thursday. There are still thousands of uncounted vote-by-mail ballots on top of the over 20,000 cast on Tuesday.