Nop Maintains Narrow Lead Over Marchand In Mayor's Race

LIVERMORE, CA — Mony Nop, a realtor who served 17 years in the Livermore Police Department, increased his lead over former mayor John Marchand Wednesday morning.

As of 11 a.m., Nop led Marchand 6,527 to 6,312, a difference of just over 200 votes and one percentage point.

When results first came in Tuesday night, Marchand, who served as Livermore mayor from 2011 to 2020, maintained a narrow lead. However, the lead shrunk as more results came in, and at one point, Marchand led by a mere 14 votes. By about 11 p.m., Nop had taken the lead.

See below to keep on track with the latest totals, and for races across Alameda County. Results are not final until certified by the county.

Marchand and Nop’s most high-profile difference is their positions on Eden Housing, a 130-unit affordable housing development that the City Council approved for downtown. Marchand, who helped plan the project is in favor of the controversial development, saying on his website that “this well-designed plan will build much needed workforce housing for our community.”

Nop opposes the development. During a candidates’ forum in September, he said that while he favors affordable housing, the project will result in parking and congestion issues downtown, and an alternative location should be found.

Nop and Marchand are both in support of Measure P, which extends the South Livermore sewer project, and Measure D, a countywide measure to expand uses for wine country. Both measures appear poised to pass by comfortable margins. As of Wednesday at noon, support for Measure G led with 8,069 yes votes and 4,626 no votes. Measure D led with 101,589 yes votes and 48,341 no votes.

Both candidates scored some big endorsements: Nop was endorsed by State Treasurer Fiona Ma, former Livermore Mayor Cathie Brown, and former Livermore council members Lorraine Dietrich and Laureen Turner.

Marchand was endorsed by Mayor Bob Woerner and the entire current city council, LVJUSD School Board President Craig Bueno, Alameda County supervisors David Haubert and Nate Miley, State Senator Steve Glazer, congress members Eric Swalwell and Jerry McNerney, Danville Mayor Newell Arnerich, and Dublin Mayor Melissa Hernandez, among others.

In City Council races, results appear more fixed. In the race for District 1 in the city’s northwest, Evan Branning, a planning commissioner and teacher, is leading teacher Carol Wahrer by 1,333 to 1,012 as of 11:35 a.m. Wednesday. Branning supports Eden Housing, while Wahrer has said a different location should be found.

In District 2 in the northeast, Ben Barrientos, a teacher and president of the Livermore Lions Club, leads Mel Chiong, a General Plan Advisory Committee member and community activist, 1,621 to 1,196. Barrientos opposes Eden Housing, while Chiong is in favor.

LVJUSD Board

Two incumbents and one newcomer are leading the race for three open seats on the Livermore school board. As of 11:40 a.m. Wednesday, incumbent Emily Prusso leads with 6,250 votes, followed by President Craig Bueno with 5,782, followed by newcomer and CSU Stanislaus Education Professor Steve Drouin.

Measure G, a bond for $450 million to fund school facility improvements, appears increasingly unlikely to pass. While yes votes led narrowly Tuesday night, “No” votes led 6,950-6,286 Wednesday morning. The measure must clear 55% approval for it to be counted.