Youth Counselor Wins Moreno Valley Council Seat [UPDATED]

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A 22-year-old youth counselor was declared the winner Wednesday in Moreno Valley's special election to serve out the unexpired term of a council member elected mayor last year.

Ulises Cabrera was the top vote-getter in Tuesday's special election to fill the vacant District 4 seat previously occupied by Yxstian Gutierrez, who was elected mayor in November. His term expires in November 2018.

Returns showed Cabrera capturing nearly 36 percent of votes cast, with businessman Hector Diaz and social worker Cheylynda "Chey" Barnard almost neck-and-neck -- each with roughly 24 percent of the vote. Former Parks Commissioner James Baker finished last with 16 percent of votes going his way.

Because it was a special election, no runoff will be necessary, even though no candidate received over 50 percent, per the California Election Code.

If he chooses to try to retain the seat, Cabrera will have to run again next year.

In Riverside, retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Chuck Conder appeared on his way to unseating Councilman Paul Davis in the Ward 4 race. Returns showed Conder with 54 percent of votes cast to Davis' 46 percent.

Conder ran on a platform of increasing the number of police officers on the streets, pushing for faster and better road repairs and limiting the amount of debt that the city can incur.

Davis touted his efforts to cut "red tape and bureaucracy" and pointed to his advocacy for improved public transportation and adding to the city's stock of affordable housing units as past accomplishments.

Councilman Andy Melendrez handily fended off challenges from Pastor Jon Scott Harris and community activist Kevin Dawson in the Ward 2 race, receiving 57 percent of votes.

In Ward 6, Councilman Jim Perry easily defeated Rafael Elizalde, the district director for Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside. Elizalde received 33 percent to Perry's 66 percent.

Elizalde supported Riverside becoming a sanctuary city, while Perry, who has served on the council for the last four years, highlighted his 30 years as a law enforcement officer and work with multiple volunteer organizations as big pluses in his re-election campaign.

According to the Riverside County Registrar of Voters Office, another election update will be posted Thursday afternoon. There are more than 300 provisional and absentee ballots still to count, and by law, registrar's staff can continue to process ballots postmarked on or before election day until the end of business Friday.

Riverside's election was vote-by-mail only, while Moreno Valley residents were afforded the opportunity to send in absentee ballots, or show up at the polls Tuesday.

Registrar's figures show a total 14,862 votes processed in both races, equating to about 19 percent of eligible voters taking part in the elections.

– By City News Service / Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone