By Khalida Sarwari
Los Gatos Councilman Mike Wasserman appears to have been elected over challenger Forrest Williams in the race for Santa Clara County District 1 supervisor, according to unofficial election results.
Wasserman will replace current Supervisor Don Gage, who is being termed out of office after more than a dozen years in the seat.
As of 3 a.m., he had received 32,756 votes, 58.82 percent, compared to Williams, a computer science engineer who received 22,933 votes.
Gage has served since 1997 as supervisor in District 1, which encompasses Almaden Valley, Santa Teresa, Blossom Valley, Gilroy, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, San Martin, and the Mt. Hamilton Range and the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Wasserman, who was endorsed by Gage, has said increasing jobs is key to minimizing the budget deficit.
Wasserman said his personal and professional background and training as a former mayor of Los Gatos, business owner and financial planner qualify him to balance the budget, increase jobs and maintain public health and safety.