Franklin Bypasses Fournell In Manhattan Beach City Council Race

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Joe Franklin has pulled ahead of Grettel Fournell in the race for the third and final seat on the Manhattan Beach City Council Nov. 3rd election. Until today [Monday, Nov. 9], Fournell had held the third spot throughout the vote count. That changed today.

Franklin now has 7,669 votes with 14.86%. Fournell has 7,634 votes with 14.79%. The two are separated by 35 votes as of today. The last count conducted by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office had Fournell holding on by 90 votes to a lead she has had since election night.

Fournell had maintained the number three spot ever since the first vote tally on Election Night but her grip has been slipping as new ballots are introduced and counted. One day ago, she was ahead of Franklin by 160 votes and the day before that by 243 and prior to that by 262.

Incumbetn Steve Napolitano has been in the top spot since the votes were first counted, and now has 11,943 votes and 23.14% Montgomery is second with 9,939 votes and 19.26%. After Franklin and Fournell, Phoebe Lyons now has 6,698 votes and 12.98%. Mark Burton is at 6,143 votes and 11.90%. Chaz Flemmings has 1,575 votes for 3.05%.

The LA County Registrar has been counting ballots that were either postmarked on Nov. 3 or deposited at Vote Centers on Nov. 3. They have also been asking voters whose ballots were not signed to come in to do so.