Local Politics
Progressive challenger Randy Villegas held a 65.1% to 34.9% lead over Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, in California's 22nd Congressional District race as of 10:45 p.m. Nov. 3, with about 44% of votes counted per the AP. Villegas claimed victory in a statement after 9 p.m., though Valadao had not conceded and the AP had not called the race. The district spans communities across Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Kern counties in the southern San Joaquin Valley, including Huron, Riverdale, Caruthers, Kerman, San Joaquin, Hanford, Porterville, Wasco, and portions of Bakersfield. If results hold, Villegas would become the first Latino to represent the Central Valley in Congress.
Public Safety
The NWS Hanford office issued a dense fog advisory on Tuesday at 8:39 p.m. valid for Wednesday from midnight through 10 a.m. across much of the San Joaquin Valley. Visibility is expected to drop to a quarter mile or less, impacting State Routes 33, 41, 43, 99, 140, 145, 152, 168, 180 and 198. The advisory covers areas including Los Banos, Dos Palos, Merced, Madera, Mendota, Fresno-Clovis, Hanford, Corcoran, Lemoore, Visalia, Porterville, Reedley, Delano, Wasco, Shafter, and Kern County. The NWS urged drivers to slow down, use headlights, and leave extra distance, or avoid driving if possible.
Local Politics · Lemoore, CA
Early returns from Tuesday night showed Lemoore voters rejecting Measure P, a proposed increase in the city's Transient Occupancy Tax on hotels from 8% to 12%. With 1,935 votes (52.07%) against and 1,781 (47.93%) in favor, the measure appeared headed for defeat. Measure P was projected to generate about $170,930 annually for the City's General Fund under a three-year spending plan proposed by the City Council. A similar hotel tax measure in nearby Hanford also failed at the ballot box in the June 2 primary.
