Lightner Claims Victory in San Diego City Council Race

Updated 5:27 a.m., Nov. 7, 2012

Sherri Lightner retained her City Council seat in the northwestern part of San Diego by defeating businessman and philanthropist Ray Ellis.

"We ran a great, fast-paced campaign, and we won," Lightner told City News Service.

Lightner captured 54.18 percent of the vote or 21,814 votes over Ellis' 18,449

Ellis went home early Tuesday evening and was unavailable for comment, according to his campaign manager.

The election was for the only City Council seat that went to a November runoff.

Councilman Todd Gloria was re-elected outright in June and Councilwoman Marti Emerald was returned to office in the newly created District 9. Scott Sherman won Emerald's old district outright in a close race in the primary, and Mark Kersey was tabbed by voters to succeed Councilman Carl DeMaio, who gave up his seat to run for mayor.

Democrats will hold a 5-4 majority on the new-look City Council, which added Emerald's new district. The elected members will be sworn-in on Dec. 3 at Golden Hall.

While the panel is technically nonpartisan, Lightner's victory could mean that Tony Young is tapped to be council president for another year, and could keep Democrats in control of committee chairmanships.

In practice, partisanship has meant little in day-to-day operations of the panel under Young's leadership over the past two years.

-City News Service