SANTEE INCUMBENTS WINNING HANDILY, MEASURE S SALES TAX INITIATIVE FAILING IN EARLY RETURNS

East County News Service

November 5, 2024 (Santee) – Santee Mayor John Minto has won reelection over challenger Kelli O’Brien, with 79.39% of the votes tallied thus far.  Councilman Dustin Trotter appears cruising to victory over Padre Dam Water Board member Augie Scalzitti, with 61.85%.  Laura Koval has also been reelected, running unopposed.

Minto is a 29-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department, and has also worked for the San Diego Gas and Electric Company. Minto also has experience with the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and the League of California Cities (CaCities) Board of Directors, and previously served on the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System Board of Directors and is a dedicated 23-year member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Measure S, the half-cent sales tax initiative to fund expansion of fire stations and firefighting personnel, is currently losing with 53.4% no and 36.6% yes votes.

Thus far, 855,948 ballots are counted out of the county’s 1,983,767 registered voters.