Novasel, Curtzwiler head for Nov. showdown

Either Sue Novasel or Kenny Curtzwiler will be the District 5 supervisor.

Updated June 6, 12:43am:

By Susan Wood

The two El Dorado County District 5 supervisor candidates on opposite ends of the political spectrum will face each other in November, a rematch of four years ago.

With all precincts reporting, incumbent Sue Novasel has 1,604 votes at 36.9 percent; while Kenny Curtzwiler is close behind with 1,419 votes at 32.64 percent.

Both were being challenged by transportation planner Jeffrey Spencer, in third with 16.52 percent (718 votes), and former supervisor Norma Santiago at 13.73 percent, (597 votes).

Of the 19,624 registered to vote in District 5, 4,347 votes were counted. These are all preliminary numbers until the election is certified within one month.

For Novasel, her optimism that her lead would hold in the June 5 primary was well founded, especially since she’s been here before with Curtzwiler. Four years ago the picture was a little different with a wider gap. This year there is about a 5 percentage point differential.

“I’m not surprised. Kenny had a lot more support than last time,” she said after early returns. “This is actually where I thought I’d be.”

A phone call to Curtzwiler was unreturned.

Novasel told Lake Tahoe News she was a little concerned with having another Democrat on the ballot (meaning Santiago) to possibly split the votes. The statewide election system – which has undergone a slew of changes in the last few years – now requires voters to cast their ballots along party lines, unless they are undeclared. 

Incumbent Mike Ranalli, who is trying to keep his supervisorial seat in District 4, has 50.03 percent, with 3,599 votes. Because he had more than 50 percent plus one vote he will not have a race in November.