Reyes Reacts to South Gate Election Results

The South Gate municipal polls have closed and Ricardo Reyes, the former marine and City Council candidate, in light of the results told Patch that he would continue to work with his supporters as a local activist.

“We sparked a lot of new ideas and inspired conversations,” said Reyes in a recent interview with Patch.  “We plan on having a presence in the community, pushing for the things that we need, and the resources that we deserve to create a better South Gate for everyone.”

less than the 1719 that Vice-Mayor Gil Hurtado received and 1723 obtained by Mayor Bill De Witt.  

In an interview with Patch, Carmen Avalos, South Gate City Clerk, said that that a few more votes were in the process of being added to the latest results. The results were qualified as “unofficial” upon being announced.

All results and ballots are being sent to the Los Angeles County Registrar in order to be certified and made official. The official tally should be available in two weeks, said Avalos.

Reyes told Patch that he was astonished with the low voter turn out.Through research, his campaign realized early on that they needed 1800 votes to win a council seat. Reyes’s campaign identified 3000 potential votes in favor of him, but only a little over third of that number resulted in votes.

“I was surprised with the voter turn out,” said Reyes. “It is always tough to go against incumbents.”

Reyes said that it was too early to say if he would run again in two years, but that supporters were already asking him. The former marine also confirmed that he had reached to the incumbents to congratulate them.

He also corroborated to Patch that he would be meeting with De Witt next week. 

“[De Witt] asked to have breakfast,” said Reyes.

Further adding that the meeting was more casual than business, and that the topics of conversation have not been determined.

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