Voters support incumbents; bond measure OK'd

Incumbents appear to be the winners in most local races, with enough partial results of the Nov. 5 election to make calls ahead of the 30-day deadline for final results.

Kern County, as well as Shafter and Wasco, bucked the state and followed the winner in voting for President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance.

Rep. David Valadeo took a close contest from perennial opponent Rudy Salas, in a district seen as critical for Republicans to hold. Dr. Jasmeet Bains held a healthy lead to return to the Assembly.

In local races, Pete Espinoza, Gilbert Alvarado and Mayor Chad Givens will be returning to the Shafter City Council, defeating Rafael Zamudio and James Osborne. Wasco seats were uncontested.

For Recreation and Parks Department directors, Nelson Salinas won District 1, Christina Comacho took District 4 and Amanda Chavez led District 5.

The $35.4 million bond measure to add $3 per $1,000 to tax bills for school upgrades in Wasco was approved handily by close to a 2-1 margin as of Wednesday afternoon.