Voters Throw Early Support Behind Chu, Morrison

Mayor Larry Chu's experience seems to count for a lot with Larkspur voters.

Chu, running for a third term on the City Council, has a strong lead over challengers Ann Morrison and Brad Marsh with seven of 10 precincts reporting in Tuesday's election.

Chu (1,550 votes) and Morrison (1,197) are the frontrunners for the two seats on the ballot. Marsh has 808 votes. Dave Kanter, who pulled out of the election weeks ago, still got 242 votes.

Councilwoman Kathy Hartzell is leaving office when her term expires.

The City Council must appoint a successor to former councilwoman Joan Lundstrom after the election, leaving the door open for any of the candidates to still join the City Council.

UPDATE

10:28 p.m.: With all 10 precincts reporting, Mayor Larry Chu can declare victory with 1,907 votes. Ann Morrison, a popular community activist and organizer, is second in the voting at 1,448, ahead of Brad Marsh (957).

Chu will serve his third term on the City Council. Morrison will fill the seat left by councilman Kathy Hartzell, who chose not to run for re-election.

Marsh could be one of the early favorites to be appointed to fill former councilwoman Joan Lundstrom's seat after the election.

"I'll seek the appointment," Marsh wrote in an e-mail after the final election numbers were posted.