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Post Election Challenges Remain in San Bernardino

A recent editorial in the SB Sun illustrates the challenges that remain in San Bernardino with an election just a few days ago that left the landscape of the city's elected officials unchanged. In their own response to the election results the Black Voice News adds their voice as well to call for a city council that can temper its often antagonistic tendencies in an effort to move forward for progress in San Bernardino.

Election Results follow...

Challenger Carolyn Tillman for San Bernardino City Council in Ward 5 lost with 21% of the vote. The race for this seat was a crowded one with a total of four individuals seeking that seat.

Incumbent Rikke Van Johnson for San Bernardino City Council in Ward 6 has advanced to a run-off election with 49.5% of the vote. For February 2008 he is locked in a tight rematch against a Republican he defeated four years ago. Rikke has narrowly missed winning outright by just 15 votes. For the progressive movement in San Bernardino it's critical that Rikke hold his seat on the Council as he is an ally of the progressive mayor, Pat Morris, on an often combative and conservative City Council. *At this time final turnout numbers have yet to be released.

Incumbent City Clerk Rachel Mendoza Clark for San Bernardino retained her seat with a sound victory over Joe Turner, the founder and director of Save Our State, a fiercely anti-immigrant group. It was Joe Turner who has infamously accused undocumented immigrants of turning California into "a Third World cesspool." This is Joe Turner's second failed attempt at elected office in San Bernardino - in November of 2006 Turner finished seventh amongst eight candidates for a seat on the board of education. Rachel won decisively with 65.6% of the vote.

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