Supervisor Eddie Valero leads Tulare County District 4 race, Harness looks to fall
Voters weighed in on one countywide race and it doesn't seem to be close.
However, with fewer candidates in November, the race may look different come fall.
Incumbent Tulare County District 4 Supervisor Eddie Valero faced three challengers — Scott Harness, Kelly Culver, Melvin K. Gong. If no candidate gets 50% of the vote, the top two finishers will move on to the November general election.
Valero led challengers with 1,474 votes (45.6%). Harness has 880 votes (27.2%), Carver 582 votes (18%) and Gong ended Wednesday morning with 296 votes (9%).
"I am excited about the results thus far," Valero said. "Community support has been tremendous and we will continue to press forward and work hard to victory."
Harness, though, says the battle isn't over. He expects to take the fight into November.
"I would like to thank all my supporters, my family, and the community of Tulare County for the overwhelming support you have shown me," he said. "Tonight's election results prove that this district sees the potential for more effective leadership."
Tulare County voter turnout was dismal Tuesday with early signs that the numbers may not break 10% of the nearly 207,000 voters. As of Tulare County registrars second Election Night report, just 7.99% of Tulare County voters had cast a ballot.
District 4
Geography: The redrawn District 4 seat covers a sliver of Visalia and the entirety of northern Tulare County, including the cities of Dinuba and Woodlake, as well as Cutler-Orosi and Three Rivers.
Candidates: Incumbent Eddie Valero is being challenged by three candidates: Dinuba teacher Kelley Culver, Dinuba businessman Scott Harness, and Air Force veteran and businessman Melvin Gong of Orosi.
If any candidate wins more than 50% of the vote during the June 7 Primary Election, they will take the seat. Otherwise, the top two vote-getters will rematch during the November General Election.
Funders: Valero has raised about $55,000 this year, primarily from local businesses and other elected San Joaquin Valley Democrats. Harness had raised about $27,000 this year, primarily from agricultural interests and individuals who did not disclose their employers.
Neither Culver nor Gong had raised more than $10,000.
District 5
Incumbent Dennis Townsend runs unopposed for the District 5 seat that covers southeast Tulare County, including the city of Porterville, Springville, Ducor, Terra Bella and Camp Nelson. His campaign has raised about $40,000 this year, primarily from farming interests.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Supervisor Eddie Valero leads Tulare County District 4 race, Harness looks to fall
