Rashi Kesarwani Claims Victory In Council Race

BERKELEY, CA — Rashi Kesarwani, who works as a finance manager for San Francisco's Human Services Agency, said Monday that she is declaring victory in the race for the District 1 seat on the Berkeley City Council that Linda Maio has held for 25 years.

In ranked-choice results in the four-candidate race that were updated Sunday evening, Kesarwani had 55 percent of the vote and engineer and Rent Stabilization Board commissioner Igor Tregub was second with 45 percent.

In the first round of voting, civil engineer Margo Schueler finished third with 15 percent and community volunteer and artist Mary Behm-Steinberg finished fourth with 4 percent.

In a statement he issued to his supporters over the weekend, Tregub said, "Based on the updated results, it appears that our second-place showing will hold. I hope you will join me in congratulating Rashi Kesarwani, who ran an incredible campaign."

Tregub wrote, "I have offered Rashi to be of any support that may be requested, and I hope you will, too."

Although some absentee ballots still need to be counted, Kesarwani said she expects to maintain her wide lead because "our majority has been increasing in every election update."

She said she's grateful that Tregub called her to offer his congratulations on her victory.

Kesarwani said among her priorities when she takes office next month will be working with Mayor Jesse Arreguin and other councilmembers to solve Berkeley's homelessness and affordable housing crises.

In District 4, Kate Harrison, who took office after winning a special election in March 2017 to fill Arreguin's council seat, appears to have won a full four-year term, as she has 52.12 percent of the vote compared to sustainable policy analyst Ben Gould's 35.4 percent.

In District 7, University of California at Berkeley university affairs chair Rigel Robinson, who's only 22, got 56 percent of the vote to take the seat that incumbent Kriss Worthington will be vacating after 22 years in office.

In District 8, incumbent Lori Droste won re-election with 57 percent of the vote.

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— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock