Unofficial election night results show San Bernardino County voters leaning toward a former elected official with no prior experience as assessor to fill that role and replace the late Bob Dutton.
As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, and with 100% of precincts reporting, former county supervisor Josie Gonzales was leading Los Angeles County Deputy Assessor Dara Smith, with 42.05% of the vote to 27.71%. Former assessor Donald Williamson and Victorville City Councilmember Blanca Azucena Gomez trailed with 15.4% and 14.66%, respectively.
LIVE ELECTION RESULTS: See a chart of the latest vote counts
With only 18.7% of the vote counted at 10:24 p.m. Tuesday, Gonzales declared victory.
“This is a resounding win for Prop. 13 protection, affirming our shared commitment to safeguarding homeowners against rising taxes,” Gonzales said in a news release. “With inflation at an all-time high, we must take immediate, decisive action to slash property taxes through voter-approved Prop. 8 and protect our families, seniors and veterans from rising costs.”
Southern California’s inflation rate was 2.4% in September, a 28-month low.
Dutton served as the county’s assessor-recorder from 2014 until his death in July 2022, a month after voters reelected him to a fourth term.
The assessor appraises the value of all property within San Bernardino County for tax purposes, but does not set tax rates or collect taxes.
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors appointed Chris Wilhite, assistant assessor, to lead the department through January 2025. Wilhite did not seek reelection, opening the door for four contenders seeking to fill the remaining two years of Dutton’s term.
The San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters expects to post its next updated vote count at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
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