Ezieme, Martinez win contested races

by Laura Monteros

Three new faces will join the Altadena Town Council and three incumbents will return following Saturday’s low-turnout election.

New to the council will be Michelle Martinez in Census Tract 4610 in one of two real races this year. Incumbent Okorie Ezieme in CT 4602 retained his seat over newcomer Alex Shey by a resounding margin.

Incumbents Judy Matthews (4603.01) and Diane Marcussen (4613), along with newcomers Gloria Sanyika (4603.02) and Jennifer Lee (4612) ran unopposed in their census tract.

With a total of 236 qualified votes, the turnout for the Altadena Town Council elections on Saturday was about less than 45 percent of last year’s 543.  A religious tract stuffed into one box was not counted.  Though few, voters were committed, with one family of five coming to the polls bringing the youngest, who had just turned 18, and several ballots noted in census tracts that had no candidates.

Vote counters were Chris Saccente, ATC member Harold “Jamie” Bissner, and Amy Cienfuegos, ATC treasurer and chair of the Election Committee.  An observer was also present to monitor the count for Census Tract 4610.

Here are the results by census tract, with winners in boldface.  Incumbents are noted with an asterisk.

4601

No candidate

4602

Alex Shey, 33

*Okorie Ezieme, 89

4603.01

*Judy Matthews, 18

4603.2

Gloria Sanyika, 3

4610

Felicia Lee, 8

Jessica Mack, 7

Michelle Martinez, 29

4611

No candidate

4612

Jennifer Lee, 26

4613

*Diane Marcussen, 23

Eight residents submitted ballots or signed the sign-in sheet for tracts that did not have candidates.  It was noted that more showed up, but did not sign in. Bissner said that allowing voters to submit ballots in those cases is important.  “The [County] Supervisor takes into account participation on the part of the community,” he said.

Five ballots were disallowed because the census tract number was not highlighted on the ballot. Poll workers are required to highlight the tract for which the voter is casting a ballot; ballots without this mark are disqualified unless a poll worker can vouch that the markers were not available.  This can be done verbally or by written note.

Numbers of allowed votes by polling stations were Altadena Community Center (early voting on Tuesday), 73; Gordy’s Garage, 49; Farnsworth Park, 74; S & J Auto, 41.  (This total is one more than the candidate totals, and the discrepancy was unresolved by press time.)

Ballots were to be taken to the office of Capt. John Benedict of the Altadena Sheriff’s Station and retained for approximately 30 days, according to Bissner.

Vacancies will be posted after ATC confirms the elections, and candidates who apply will be interviewed by the council and the chosen ones appointed to office.