MADERA - While it may be the end of democracy in our Federal government, democracy is alive and well in Madra County. Last night, voters in Madera elected its first female mayor since the city moved to a mayor/council district system. John Adams' teacher and three-term city council member Cecelia Gallegos beat sitting mayor Santos Garcia by more than two hundred votes. Gallegos took an early lead during last night's three-and-a-half-hour count and never looked back.
Incumbent Anita Evans easily defeated former Madera City Councilmember Derek Robinson by 233 votes. Robinson had no financial disclosure papers filed with the county, but Evans showed she raised over $2000 and spent $32 on her campaign. Her first campaign in 2020 ended with a debt of over $7,000. Councilmember Artemio Villega was defeated last night by John Jasper and left a campaign debt of $8,837 with no signs of campaign contributions listed in his financial disclosures.
The Madera County Measure T initiative was successful despite a negative campaign by former Madera County Supervisor candidate Mark Reed, filled with false and misleading information. The measure will ensure the county has matching funding for road projects without creating new taxes on the general public.
None of these results are official until certified by the Madera County Clerk. In the next few days, more ballots mailed on election day or cast under provisional status will be counted. The Madera City Council will also need to decide whether to call for a special election to fill Gallegos' Remaining term on the council or appoint a replacement.
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Madera & Chowchilla Election Results
Vote Centers Reported: 8/8 - Unofficial
MADERA MAYOR PERCENT VOTE
Cecelia Gallegos 35.23% 3305
Santos Garcia 32.65% , 3063
Wayne Padilla 19.06% 1788
Lucy Salazar 13.05% 1224
MADERA CITY COUNCIL #6 PERCENT VOTE
Anita Evans 62.76% 573
Derek Robinson 37.24% 3404
MADERA CITY COUNCIL #4 PERCENT VOTE
John Jasper 51.64% 568
Artemio Villegas 48.36% 532
CHOWCHILLA MAYOR PERCENT VOTE
Josh Moore 48.43% 1342
Kelly Smith 51.57% 1429
MUSD TRUSTEE #3 PERCENT VOTE
Ruben Mendoza 56.86% 1820
Abel Perez 43.14% 1153
MEASURE T PERCENT VOTE
Yes 51.86% 18304
No 48.14% 16993
MEASURE N PERCENT VOTE
Yes 80.46% 2302
No 19.48% 559
Gray is leading by a growing 1224 votes over Duarte
Soria over Rose 53.3% to 46.7%. Nearly 5000 votes
Measure Q Failing to reach 55%
