Updated Nov. 9, 2:46 p.m.–
Vice Mayor Jeff Slowey and former councilman Bret Daniels both won election to the Citrus Heights city council Tuesday night, after receiving the top number of votes among a sea of eight candidates vying for two spots on the council.
As of the latest vote count totals published just after 1 a.m. Wednesday on the Sacramento County elections website, Slowey received 24.3 percent of the vote, followed by Daniels at 18.9 percent. Third and fourth place were held by candidates Marcel Weiland and Rick Doyle, who each received just over 14 percent of the vote.
While Slowey was widely expected to win re-election, Daniels’ strong performance was a surprise in the race, as he was previously unsuccessful in winning a seat on the council in two prior elections. Daniels also had a campaign budget this year of less than half that of candidates Doyle and Weiland.
“It is 1:30 a.m. and I am feeling confident. FINALLY!” wrote Daniels in an early morning Facebook post on Wednesday, after the county updated its vote totals. “Thank you to everybody who helped on this journey. It has been 11 years since I was on the council and I am looking very forward to returning!”
Daniels previously served on the city council from 1999 until he resigned in 2005, citing personal and family reasons. Slowey has served on the council since 2003.
At an election night event at Stones Casino on Tuesday, the pair said their plans in office would both include a focus on public safety and economic issues.
Daniels, a former Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputy, said he plans to deliver on his campaign promise to improve public safety, quality of life, and “economic vitality.” Slowey said he would move forward with a continued focus on fiscal responsibility and supporting police — adding that his “most important” and immediate task would be picking up his campaign signs all across the city.
While agreeing on several issues in the campaign, Slowey and Daniels disagreed during their campaigns regarding the transportation-related Measure B sales tax proposal. Daniels opposed the measure while Slowey said he would “reluctantly” vote yes on the measure.
With two spots on the five-member council up for election, the pair also endorsed different candidates during their campaigns, with Slowey endorsing Doyle and Daniels endorsing Tim Schaefer for city council.
Daniels will replace outgoing councilwoman Sue Frost on the city council, a seat which Frost gave up in order to run for a position on the county board of supervisors. Frost won the election for supervisor on Tuesday, receiving about 54 percent of the vote.
Learn more about Tuesday night’s city council winners:
