Still leading the Coronado mayoral race on Thursday night, John Duncan appears to claim the title of mayor after Casey Tanaka conceded.
Duncan continued to lead at 46.30% after another round of results were released at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Shortly after the San Diego County Registrar of Voters updated their numbers at that time, Tanaka conceded. He sat at 41.17%, while Mike Donovan, the third candidate, had 12.53% of votes.
“I want to keep doing what I’m doing,” Duncan said at his campaign party on Nov. 5. “People liked [what I was doing], so I was really, really happy,” he said minutes after he learned the early results.
Duncan says one of his most important roles has been serving on a city subcommittee for the Tijuana sewage crisis with Mayor Richard Bailey.
He said he wants to push for a resolution with the Tijuana sewage issue, whether that’s with the IBWC or with meetings with members of Congress in Washington, D.C.
Duncan praised his other running mates, noting both of their long-term services to the city as Tanaka was a two-term mayor from 2008-2016 and Donovan has served two terms on City Council.
“The early results look good for Mr. Duncan,” Tanaka said on Nov. 5. “With 6,000 votes counted, his lead looks like a healthy one.”
Donovan said that he was disappointed by his numbers, but happy with the campaign that he ran.
Coronado’s elections have always been nonpartisan, but recent campaign finance documents filed with the city and public comments at a City Council meeting have brought partisan politics into play.
According to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters, there are 3,602 Democrats, 4,244 Republicans and 145 Libertarians registered in Coronado as of Nov. 1 with 2,685 residents who declined to answer.
Vying to fill two City Council positions are six candidates: Mark Fleming, Andrew Gade, Christine Mott, Laura Wilkinson Sinton, Amy Steward and Mark Warner. A third seat will be up for grabs once Duncan takes office.
City Council candidates
Early results in the City Council race were particularly tight, with three candidates divided by three percentage points of one another.
Fleming was leading with 22.54%, or 2,936 votes, as of 6 p.m. on Nov. 8. The 66-year-old retiree previously owned and operated two businesses with over 800 employees— a large commercial electrical contracting company called Corbins and a technology and innovation company that provides services to the construction industry, NOX innovations.
Fleming said Coronado is currently in a pretty good financial position with excess funds. However, with a lot of expenditures coming up, he said, it is important to be careful not to end up in a deficit.
One topic he’s watching is the Cays Park Master Plan, a long-range vision for renovations at the Coronado Cays Park.
Steward was in second place at 19.69%, or 2,564 votes, as of 6 p.m. on Nov. 8.
This was Steward’s first run for office, but she has been active in local schools and as founder and president of Emerald Keepers, a non-profit organization in Coronado that aims to address environmental stewardship.
Wilkinson Sinton is close behind in third place at 19.64%, or 2,558 votes, as of 6 p.m. on Nov. 8.
Wilkinson Sinton, 66, who has owned a home in the Coronado Cays since 1999, focused her campaign on three main issues: the sewage crisis, e-bike safety and prudent spending of taxpayer dollars to improve municipal infrastructure that failed during flooding in January.
With a master’s degree in sustainability leadership from the College of Global Futures at Arizona State University, Sinton touted her experience with the science of resiliency.
Warner was at 16.48%, or 2,147 votes, as of 6 p.m. on Nov. 8.
Warner, 66, has been in Coronado for more than two decades.
Warner says that he’s been involved with the city for years, interacting with Coronado’s zoning, planning and engineering departments, the city clerk, the mayor, council members, historic resource commissioners and the city manager.
He said his experience has given him insight that translates into being an effective leader in the community.
Mott was at 13.78%, or 1,795 votes, as of 6 p.m. on Nov. 8.
Mott, 42, is an attorney, wife, mother and community activist who has lived in Coronado for nearly five years.
She was among the community leaders who sued the city to stop the removal of pine trees adjacent to the Lawn Bowling Green, which, according to city officials, contributed to fungus growing on the lawn’s surface.
Mott said the controversy got her more interested in local government and serving the interests of her community.
Gade was in last place at 7.87%, or 1,025 votes, as of 6 p.m. on Nov. 8.
Mark Fleming at John Duncan’s election watch party on Nov. 5. He is in first place so far.Staff photo by Madeline Yang. 
Laura Wilkinson Sinton is in 2nd place after the first unofficial results were released. Staff photo by Madeline Yang. Amy Steward is in 3rd place after the first unofficial results were released. Staff photo by Madeline Yang. Mark Warner is in 4th place after the first unofficial results were released. Staff photo by Madeline Yang. Christine Mott is in 5th place after the first unofficial results were released. Staff photo by Madeline Yang. Andrew Gade at John Duncan’s election watch party on Nov. 5. He is in last place so far. Staff photo by Madeline Yang.
Gade, 43, moved to Coronado three years ago after having lived in San Diego since 2001 to finish his economics degree at San Diego State University.
He said he ran for local office to help protect what he holds dear in this city and to continue maintaining the relationship between city government and residents.
