2024 Election Results: Incumbents Nigsarian and Espinoza, Lampkin ahead for La Habra City Council, Measure V winning
Daren Nigsarian, Rose Espinoza and Delwin “Del” Lampkin held slight leads for the three open seats on the La Habra City Council after the last update on counting Tuesday night.
LIVE ELECTION RESULTS: See a chart of the latest vote counts
Incumbents Espinoza, Nigsarian and Carrie Surich faced challenges from Michelle Bernier, Lampkin and Susan M. Pritchard for the City Council.
Measure V is the city’s request to increase the local sales tax from a half-cent to a cent and make it permanent. Early returns indicated support among voters. It will require a simple majority in support for the measure to pass.
Espinoza, who grew up in town, was first elected to the City Council in 2000. She’s also known for creating Rosie’s Garage, the afterschool tutor program that grew from her garage.
Bernier, a small business owner, has been a member of the city’s Planning Commission and touted her role in the “successful approval of an inclusionary housing ordinance in 2021” when asked by the newspaper’s voter guide about meeting demands and mandates for housing.
Lampkin, a deputy sheriff, said he wants to be a leader who empowers people. He previously said the city needs more transparency in city spending as residents are asked to approve a half-cent increase to the local sales tax.
Nigsarian, a retired sheriff’s deputy and a former planning commissioner, was appointed to the council in February 2022. He previously raised in his voter guide response concerns about “rampant redevelopment” and its impacts on the community’s character.
Pritchard has served on the La Habra City School District board and spent more than 30 teaching science in town. She raised a concern about the cost of lawsuits the city is fighting when asked in the voter guide about big needs in the city.
Surich was appointed to the council in April and previously served on the planning and community services commissions. She said in her campaign statement that priorities for her will include supporting public safety, expanding open space and park options and working “to promote and attract quality businesses.”
The Registrar of Voters said following election night, results will be updated daily at 5 p.m., except weekends, until the counting is complete.
