Ballot Box in front of Pasadena City Hall (Photo – ColoradoBlvd.net)
PASADENA – ColoradoBoulevard.net:
On Friday, July 1, 2022, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk finalized and certified its final vote count.
By News Desk
In District 3, incumbent John J. Kennedy garnered 59.94% of the votes and his challenger, Brandon Lamar garnered 41.06%. Sources close to Kennedy’s camp privately expressed their disappointment in the results, stating that stronger results were expected given the amount of money the campaign had raised. On the other hand, observers were impressed with Lamar’s strong showing as a first time candidate, conceding that he presents himself as a viable threat to the establishment in the coming years.
In District 7, Jason Lyon will replace retiring council member, Andy Wilson. Lyon’s win continues a long-running streak of Pasadena Councilmembers with no kids at PUSD (all of Lyons’ kids attend private schools). His primary opponent, Ciran Hadjian, has children at PUSD but did not make it an issue in the race. This and the decision of Hadjian’s campaign to utilize the same playbook from Tyron Hampton’s first time run (no debate participation while concentrating on home visits,) may not have worked in her favor. While Jason Lyon was garnering endorsements and attending debates, no one seemed to know Hadjian outside her own circle. Ultimately, Lyon prevented a runoff by receiving 51.56% of the primary vote to Hadjian’s 36.04%.
In the Pasadena City College Board of Trustees races, all incumbents were unseated. Challenger Steve Gibson garnered an impressive 60.48% of the votes to secure a win against incumbent Berlinda Brown (39.52%). Challenger Kristine Kwong garnered 52.74% to incumbent Linda S. Wah’s 47.26%. Alton Wang (challenger) was trailing Anthony Fellow (incumbent) early on, but in the final weeks of vote tabulations he garnered enough votes to win the race with 51.21%, compared to 48.79% for Fellow. PCC Trustee races were contentious at times with both sides pointing fingers at each other. Analysts attributed multiple factors to the sweep, including multiple stakeholder-votes of no confidence in the Board, the elimination of popular academic programs, a failed land deal for a new campus in Arcadia, and an organized labor movement to oust long-time incumbents.
A month after the June 7 election, here is how the political scene has shaped up: (Results as of July 1, 2022, 11:39 am).
Pasadena City Council
District 3:
- John J. Kennedy: 58.94% – 1,552 votes. (June 28: 58.94% – 1,552 votes)
- Brandon D. Lamar: 41.06% – 1,081 votes. (June 28: 41.06% – 1,081 votes)
District 5:
- Jess Rivas: 100.0% – 2,237 votes.
District 7:
- Jason Lyon: 51.56% – 2,678 votes. (June 28: 51.57% – 2,677 votes)
- Ciran Hadjian: 36.04% – 1,872 votes. (June 28: 36.02% – 1,870 votes)
- Allen Shay: 12.40% – 644 votes. (June 28: 12.41% – 644 votes)
Pasadena City College
Trustee Area No. 3:
- Steve Gibson: 60.48% – 5,202 votes. (June 28: 60.48% – 5,202 votes)
- Berlinda Brown: 39.52% – 3,399 votes. (June 28: 39.52% – 3,399 votes)
Trustee Area No. 5:
- Kristine Kwong: 52.74% – 6,075 votes. (June 28: 52.75% – 6,075 votes)
- Linda S. Wah: 47.26% – 5,444 votes. (June 28: 47.25% – 5,441 votes)
Trustee Area No. 7:
- Alton Wang: 51.21% – 4,636 votes. (June 28: 51.20% – 4,635 votes)
- Anthony R. Fellow: 48.79% – 4,417 votes. (June 28: 48.80% – 4,417 votes)
Kristine Kwong turns back the clock on racial equity very sad she won.I knew she would when I saw all the race baiting that occurred.How this partner in a law firm that represents charter schools and employers against their employees could call herself an education attorney is beyond me.Is it because she addressed the 25th annual Charter School Convention in 2018? The loss of Linda Wah to the PCC Board of Trustees is insurmountable.