UPDATE (8:30 a.m.) – All precincts have reported in but ballots are still being counted which means this race is not final. However, Caren Ray retains a lead of 238 votes over incumbent Jim Hill.
Two new members have been elected to city council — Jimmy Paulding and Keith Storton. Paulding, a local businessman, ran for city council after his close defeat in the SLO County Supervisors race in June. Storton recently retired from the SLO police department as Captain. Neither incumbent ran for re-election.
UPDATE (12:15 a.m.) – Election night results released at midnight show Caren Ray maintaining her lead over Jim Hill in the race for mayor by just 223 votes.
(8:18 p.m.) – The Arroyo Grande mayoral seat and two city council seats are up for election.
The mayoral candidates include incumbent Jim Hill and challenger Caren Ray. Initial results released just after 8 p.m. on Election Night show Caren Ray leading with 2,213 votes to Hill’s 2,039 votes.
The five city council candidates are Terry Fowler-Payne, Jimmy Paulding, Coleen Kubel, John Mack, and Keith Storton. There are two open seats available. Paulding and Storton are currently leading the pack with more than 30 percent each.
Those elected will be faced with decisions on the Brisco Road interchange as well as how much AG pays to the Five Cities Fire Authority for service.
