Napolitano, Montgomery, Fournell Trifecta in Manhattan Beach Race

UPDATE: Incorrect. The first lead Grettel Fournell had was stated correctly. She is leading by 262 votes over Joe Franklin. Thanks to another reader for pointing this out.

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — As the nation awaits the tally of votes in the presidential election, the latest local vote count puts two incumbents and a newcomer closer to officially claiming the three open seats on the Manhattan Beach City Council.

Unless something changes with the remaining provisional and late-arriving ballot tally, current Manhattan Beach City Council members Steve Napolitano and Mayor Richard Montgomery will be re-elected. Both incumbents have held the number 1 and two positions since voting ballots were first counted last night around 8:30 p.m. Napolitano has 23.29% with 10,030 votes and Montgomery has 19.20% with 8,269. Both are impressive showings but not completed unexpected.

Newcomer Fournell is the most in jeopardy until all votes have been counted, as she leads Joe Franklin by just 262 votes. Fournell has maintained the third position ever since votes tallies began to be announced last night, however, Franklin, who has run previously, moved up from fifth to fourth place as the vote count progressed. Presently, Fournell has 15.05% with with 6,482 votes; Franklin has 14.45% with 6,220 votes.

First-time city council candidate Fournell joins another first-timer Phoebe Lyons as having lead highly successful campaigns. Lyons started the night in fourth place but fell to fifth as Vote Center ballots came in and altered the results of Vote By Mail ballots. Still, the 23-year-old lifelong Manhattan Beach resident who used less than $10,000 on her campaign [every candidate but Napolitano, Lyons and Chaz Flemmings used more than $15,000] snagged 13.07% with 5,628 votes.

In Manhattan Beach as a resident for just one year now, Flemmings earned 3.08% with 1,327 votes with probably the lowest budget of all candidates. In his third attempt to gain a city council seat, former city council member Mark Burton grabbed 11.85% with 5,101 votes.

The City of Manhattan Beach City Clerk's office notes that post-election ballot counting/tally will continue through Monday, Nov. 30, with 10 updates between now and the 30th.

The election results will be certified and official once all ballots have been counted. Results thus far are preliminary.