By Khalida Sarwari
In the Saratoga City Council race, past and present planning commissioners and an incumbent appear to be victorious, according to preliminary election results.
Mayor Emily Lo, the incumbent in the race, received 24.7 percent of the vote, followed by Mary-Lynne Bernald, who received 3,547 votes, according to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters.
With 3,035 votes, or 19.6 percent, Rishi Kumar appeared to have a slight lead over Yan Zhao, who had 2,899 votes as of the morning of Nov. 5.
John Chen received 2,138 votes.
Barring any significant changes in the vote tally, Lo will return to her council seat and Bernald and Kumar will go on to fill the seats that will be vacated by council members Chuck Page and Jill Hunter. All three are four-year terms.
In the Saratoga Union School District race, incumbent Patty Buchanan led with 26.5 percent of the vote. She was followed by Susan Germeraad and Cynthia Miller, with 22.5 and 21.2 percent of the votes, respectively. Laura Tillett and Yongjian Wu received the fewest votes.
The three leading candidates will be replacing board members Paige Berardo and Michael Gipe.
And, in the State Assembly District 28 race, Campbell Councilman Evan Low edged out Saratoga Councilman Chuck Page to replace outgoing Assemblyman Paul Fong.
While waiting for the votes to be tallied after the closing of the precincts on election night, candidates kept their eyes on the TV screens while entertaining guests at their election night events.
“We’ll be rooting for you all night,” said one guest to Kumar at the home of Kalpana and Raj Jaswa, where Kumar held an election night party for his supporters. “You’ll be fine,” another guest assured him. One couple gave him a small celebratory gift.
Standing in the living room, away from the festivities in the Jaswa’s back yard, Kumar was fixated on the results displayed across the television screen. A large banner with his campaign slogan, “Keep Saratoga Great,” hung on a wall next to him.
“It will be a replay of four years ago,” he said, referring to the last election in which he also ran. “It’s going to be drawn out.”
Regardless, Kumar said he was feeling “pretty good.” “I think the city will win–our citizens will win–whoever wins,” he said.
At Stiletto’s Wine Bar, Bernald wore a big smile while passing out drinks to her guests. The venue was packed to the brim with Bernald’s fellow planning commissioners, family members and supporters who sipped wine and champagne and nibbled on mini cupcakes.
“I’m excited and pleased,” she said. “I’m feeling good. I’m here to celebrate everyone who supported me. That’s what this party is about.”
Halfway into the party, Chen dropped by to mingle with Bernald’s guests. He described his experience of campaigning for the first time as “exhilarating.”
“I feel that it’s my first time running, so I don’t have high expectations,” he said. “But you can be sure that you haven’t heard the last of John Chen.”
Meanwhile, down the street at Hong’s Gourmet, Zhao alternated between greeting guests as they poured into the restaurant and tracking the election results on TV. She said she was nervous, but confident about her chances.
“I think we worked so hard for the past three months or so,” Zhao said. “I’m pretty confident; this is my second time running, and I think I have the name recognition.”
Whether she ultimately wins or loses, she said she’d continue serving her city.
“I’ve always been passionate, so I think nothing will change about that,” she said.
Lo held a small gathering for friends, family and supporters at her own home. In between passing out drinks and appetizers in her dining room, the mayor stopped to reflect on the end of yet another campaign season. Despite the amount of personal time her duties on the city council consume, Lo said she finds public service a fulfilling experience and one she’d like to continue for another term.
“Win or lose, I think I’ve done my best in the last four years serving on the city council,” she said.
