Cerritos Election Day Buzz: That's a Wrap!

Need more Election Day info? We've got you covered: "What You Need to Know About the Cerritos Municipal Election."

- - -

1:21 a.m. March 9 

Well that's a wrap folks! Election Day has officially ended. Thanks for following our Election Day blog and buzz. A recap with final results, including winner reaction can be viewed here: Pulido, Barrows and Cho Elected to Cerritos City Council.

And don't forget to continue following Patch for follow ups and updates on this election. Good night!

- - -

Election Day -- 12:02 a.m. March 9:  The Unofficial Results 

2011 Cerritos Municipal Election Unofficial Results for 11 of 11 Precincts

For numbers on precinct breakdowns check the City's website. 

- - -

Election Day -- 11:36 p.m.:  Semi-Official Returns 

2011 Cerritos Municipal Election Semi-Official Returns for 10 of 11 Precincts

For numbers on precinct breakdowns check the City's website. The City is also providing live result updates on Cerritos TV3.

- - -

Election Day -- 11:29 p.m.:  Semi-Official Returns 

2011 Cerritos Municipal Election Semi-Official Returns for 9 of 11 Precincts

For numbers on precinct breakdowns check the City's website. The City is also providing live result updates on Cerritos TV3.

- - -

Election Day -- 11:07 p.m.:  Semi-Official Returns 

2011 Cerritos Municipal Election Semi-Official Returns for 7 of 11 Precincts

For numbers on precinct breakdowns check the City's website. The City is also providing live result updates on Cerritos TV3.

- - -

Election Day -- 11 p.m.:  Semi-Official Returns 

2011 Cerritos Municipal Election Semi-Official Returns for 6 of 11 Precincts

For numbers on precinct breakdowns check the City's website. The City is also providing live result updates on Cerritos TV3.

- - - 

Election Day -- 10:51 p.m.:  Semi-Official Returns 

2011 Cerritos Municipal Election Semi-Official Returns

For numbers on precinct breakdowns check the City's website. The City is also providing live result updates on Cerritos TV3.

- - - 

Election Day -- 10:41 p.m.:  Semi-Official Returns 

2011 Cerritos Municipal Election Semi-Official Returns

For numbers on precinct breakdowns check the City's website. The City is also live result updates on Cerritos TV3.

- - - 

Election Day -- 10:01 p.m.:  Semi-Official Returns 

2011 Cerritos Municipal Election Semi-Official Returns

For early numbers on precinct breakdowns check the City's website.

- - - 

Election Day -- 9:57 p.m.:  Semi-Official Returns 

2011 Cerritos Municipal Election Semi-Official Returns

For early numbers on precinct breakdowns check the City's website.

- - -

Election Day -- 9:30 p.m.:  Semi-Official Returns 

2011 Cerritos Municipal Election Semi-Official Returns

For early numbers on precinct breakdowns check the City's website.

- - - 

Election Day -- 8:50 p.m.:  Semi-Official Returns 

2011 Cerritos Municipal Election Semi-Official Returns

The City of Cerritos has posted the following semi-official returns for the March 8, 2011 Cerritos Municipal Election by precinct. Polling places closed at 8 p.m. 

- - -

Election Day 8 p.m.

Voter reaction from the polling location:

--- After voting with her family, resident Lisa Mata said"I'm concerned about peace and order, especially the gangs. I want the city to impose laws on gang members."

--- "Now that the economy is the way it is, I feel it is important to vote who I want in office to do a good job, especially for the kids," Michelle Ando told Patch after voting.

"I'm concerned about keeping the city the way it is, the economy with a lot of stores closing. It's sad to see so many stores leave the Cerritos Towne Center."

Ando said she voted for Pulido and Barrows.

On Pulido: "He came from the ABC School Board and he can bring that knowledge to the city council and work with the school district.

On Barrows: "He's been on the city council for so long. He's down to Earth."

- - - 

Election Day 7:55 p.m.

Poll workers at the  Crossroads Multinational Church of the Nazarene said they had a great voter turnout today, handing out roughly 400 ballots total.

- - -

Election Day -- 7:30 p.m.

Just 30 minutes left until the polling places close. If you haven't already placed your vote, make sure to get out to your assigned station before the 8 p.m. deadline!

- - - 

Election Day -- 6:44 p.m.

Harshad Mody talks to Patch on Election Day:

Did you do any last-minute campaigning before Election Day?

"Not really. I spent my time to prepare for Campaign finale party. Whatever has to be done was done as per schedule period." 

How confident are your chances in winning?

"There is no question for winning. 100%" 

What is your final appeal to voters?

"Please exercise your right to vote. If you don't vote, don't be surprised if you ruled by 'fools'."

"PLEASE REMEMBER society does not go down because of criminals, but because of INACTIVITY of GOOD PEOPLE." 

- - - 

Election Day -- 6:35 p.m.

Patch reporter Ed Carrasco recently spoke to Mayor and City Council candidate Joseph Cho, who said he is patiently waiting for the election results before predicting anything.

Cho said he and his volunteers are continuing to reach out to supporters at this time: "I have to work hard and I'm very confident that I will succeed."

"My number one priority is financial stability," Cho said. "Our new governor wants to get rid of the redevelopment agencies and this time I'm going to fight back to protect our local funds."

Cho has emphatically stressed the importance of the city's redevelopment funding throughout his campaign.

"Our redevelopment agency accounts for a quarter of the budget. If the governor get rids of them, it will severely affect our city," he said.

- - -

Election Day -- 6:26 p.m.

The article on the polling location accessibility problems has been updated with a response from the City Clerk's office along with comments from Harshad Mody on the improper posting location of one of his signs. Read the article and all the updates here: 

- - - 

Election Day -- 5:55 p.m.

Patch reporter Ed Carrasco just finished speaking to some voters at the Ashworth Place polling place. Here is some of the voter reaction:

--- "I just want to see the city safe and more development," said Judith Johnstone, who placed her vote at the Ashworth Place polling station. "We could use more businesses because lots of them are closing there."

"I voted for Barrows because I liked what he's done in the past as mayor," Johnstone told Patch.

--- "I'm a friend of the many candidates in the election," Reed R. Stout told Patch after voting. "I want a very prudent government, a balanced budget, and I feel very fortunate to live here. We get excellent tax revenue from the Cerritos Auto Square."

Stout said he voted for Grace Hu, Bruce Barrows and Chris Fuentes, adding "I hope that they will spend wisely.

--- Jane Stout said, "Grace Hu is a sharp businesswoman and she will do well to look after the needs of the community."

- - -

Election Day -- 4:17 p.m.

In a final appeal to voters, city council candidate wants voters to make their government accountable and transparent.

"I've accomplished what I've set out to do and that is to raise concerns and talk about the the waste in the city government, including the deficit at the and I'm proud of it," he said.

"You have to be the change you want to see. What my campaign was all about what the change I want to see here in Cerritos," Fuentes added.

He said that unlike some of his opponents, he has operated his candidacy on a shoestring budget and has not accepted money from special interests.

When he overheard a voter at a polling station at Ashworth Place, he was pleased that his message of fiscal responsibility and reining in wasteful spending was resonating to voters in the city.

"It made feel good that voters understand the message that we need to stop this wasteful spending," he said.

Fuentes said the first thing he will do when he is sworn in is to get rid of his city-issued credit card, which he said has been a source of government waste.

"I will pull out the credit card, get a pair of scissors and cut it up," he said. "I will pass the golden scissors around and see who will be willing to cut up their credit cards."

- - -

Election Day -- 4:07 p.m.

An article on the polling location accessibility problems is now posted on Patch and can be read in its entirety here:

- - - 

Election Day -- 3:35 p.m.

Patch reporter Ed Carrasco just completed a ride-a-long to polling stations around the city with candidate . The candidate pointed out that voters are not getting proper access to the polls on Election Day -- lack of visible signs and the difficulty in reaching polling stations 

During the drive, the pair also discovered that a candidate sign supporting was placed too close to the polling station entrance at the Vintage Cerritos senior facility near Cerritos College. The clerk in charge of the polling station, John Carnagie, was notified and moved the sign to meet election laws.

A complete article and photos of the above complaints will be posted shortly on Patch.

- - - 

Election Day -- 1:30 p.m.

Patch Reporter Terence Calacsan just spoke to candidate about her thoughts on Election Day:

"I’m grateful to all the residence at Cerritos. They received me with open arms and open heart," Rami told Patch. "They appreciated me and they talk to me. I'm pretty sure that I will get it (the voters support)."

 "I slept well and I woke up at a regular time," Rami said reflecting on the last 24 hours. "Yesterday, I walked through neighborhoods and today I walked too."

When asked about she felt about her chances on Election Day, Rami said, "I'm not even thinking about 'ifs' and 'buts.' I am confident about my victory."

"It was a great experience. I learned a lot ... I'm still learning," she said. "The other thing is, I found out there are so many wonderful people residing in Cerritos. They are really, really super nice. Talking to them, listening to them ... it was really a great experience. I really had a blast. I really enjoyed it. It was very, very nice."

Rami expressed that being a first-time candidate has truly been an "unbelievable experience."

Rami has invited all her supporters to meet with her at 8 p.m. tonight at her election headquarters located at 17429 Pioneer Blvd., Artesia, CA 90701.