Looks Like Joe Franklin Headed To Manhattan Beach City Council

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Manhattan Beach City Council candidate Joe Franklin may be saying to newcomer candidate Grettel Fournell the old adage, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." Franklin, who ran for city council in the March 2019 election and lost, appears to have finally reached his goal to make it onto the Manhattan Beach City Council. Fournell, who has never run before, appears headed for a fourth place finish and the loss of the third council she appeared primed for when early election vote tallies election night and a week or two following put her in the lead.

Now, there is just one vote count update left before the certification of Nov. 3 election results, meaning Franklin, who currently holds the lead for securing the third seat on the Manhattan Beach City Council, may actually get it.

As of the most recent numbers yesterday [Friday, Nov. 27], Franklin leads by 89 votes with 7,886 and 14.91% to Fournell's 7,797 and 14.74%. The election has been a nail-biter for the third and final seat on the MB City Council, however, once Franklin took the lead he's never relinquished it.

Incumbents Steve Napolitano and Mayor Richard Montgomery have held commanding leads ever since the first tally results were released on election night. Napolitano, to date, has 12,240 votes at 23.14% and Montgomery has 10,182 and 19.25%.

Franklin ran for the MB City Council in 2019, when two seats were up for grabs. Current Mayor Pro Tem Suzanne Hadley and council member Hildy Stern prevailed in that election. Other candidates in 2019 included Mark Burton, who ran again in the current election and is finishing sixth so far and previously served a four-year term on council; Wayne Powell, who had previously served an eight-year term on council; Joseph Ungoco and Brian Withers.

The single remaining vote count is scheduled for

• Monday, Nov. 30.

The results will be certified after that count update is completed.