Close Races Unchanged by Absentee, Write-In Ballots

The tabulation of about 45,000 absentee and write-in ballots Thursday failed to change the outcome in several close elections in San Diego County, figures released by the county registrar of voters showed.

About 6,000 additional countywide ballots remain to be counted next week, but, because of the relatively small number cast in individual legislative districts, those votes also are unlikely to alter any major race’s outcome.

In a state Assembly race with the narrowest victory margin, Thursday’s ballots added 21 votes to retired naval officer Dick Daleke’s lead over former Del Mar Mayor Ronnie Delaney, giving him 14,882 votes (44.5%) to Delaney’s total of 14,087 (42.1%).

San Diego City Councilman Bob Filner also slightly stretched his apparent victory margin in the six-candidate Democratic primary in the 50th Congressional District. Filner finished first with 10,791 votes (26%), followed by state Sen. Wadie P. Deddeh with 9,732 votes (23.5%) and former Rep. Jim Bates with 8,300 votes (20%).

In the Republican primary in the 37th state Senate District, Assemblywoman Carol Bentley (R-Santee) still trails Assemblyman Dave Kelley of Idyllwild, 37,949 votes to 34,371. However, about 6,000 votes remain to be counted in the Riverside County portion of the district, which also covers southeastern San Diego and all of Imperial County.

There also was little change in the San Diego city attorney’s race, as incumbent John Witt’s total increased to 101,120 votes (51%), to 96,700 (49%) for his challenger, former San Diego City Councilman Bruce Henderson.