BY MATT DURNING //

Residents of El Cerrito voted to support the current direction of their local city government Tuesday, electing council-endorsed newcomers Ann Cheng and Greg Lyman while also reelecting incumbent Mayor Bill Jones.

Cheng, the only woman running and the youngest candidate at 30 years old, won the election with 4,852 votes, or 25.8 percent. Jones received 4,553 votes, or 24.2 percent, and Lyman had 4,364 votes, or 23.2 percent.

In winning, Cheng becomes the first Asian American councilmember in the 90-year history of El Cerrito.

“Those who have the ability and resources to widen the boundaries of inclusion should be encouraged to step up,” said Cheng, reflecting on her victory. “I am very proud to fill this role and definitely hope to cultivate an interest in local government by all ages.”

The two newcomers bring years of professional experience in city planning and infrastructure projects. Both advocate a vision of mixed-use, transit-oriented, sustainable community development in El Cerrito.

Cheng, an urban planner, said her top priority would be making sure there is sufficient community input and involvement in developing the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan.

Lyman, a civil and environmental engineer and the former chair of El Cerrito’s Park & Recreation Committee, said one of his first orders of business would be to get more trees planted in Canyon Trail Park and around the city.

Both agreed the controversy surrounding the closing of Portola Middle School is a primary concern that requires serious attention.

“The City Council really needs to be active in healing the city’s divide on this issue,” Lyman said. “We need to make sure the [WCCUSD] school board reaches a decision that is in the best interest of our residents.”

Mayor Jones said he was very happy with the election outcome and pleased that all of the candidates ran positive campaigns.

“I think anytime a person gets reelected for a second term it makes them feel good,” he said.  “It’s a confirmation that people think you’re doing a good job, or at least can be trusted moving forward.”

Jones said he expected the next four years to be more difficult than the previous four, citing the desperate financial climate facing California and the country as a whole.

The Mayor said he intends to complete those ongoing projects already with dedicated funding – such as the second phase of redevelopment on San Pablo Avenue and improvements to the recycling center – before taking on anything new.

All three candidates expressed excitement over the outcome of the US presidential election and said they look forward to working in an environment of new ideas and new energy at the federal level.

“Government that is good for Main Street,” said Jones. “Governing rather than ruling.”

The two other candidates in the race, Andrew Ting and David Boisvert, finished well behind the winners with 2,514 votes and 2,477 votes respectively. This was the second unsuccessful city council campaign for both men, who also ran in 2004.

Boisvert congratulated the winners on running a well-orchestrated campaign and said he thought the endorsements they received from the current city council had a major impact.

“I think the voters of El Cerrito perceive that the way the city is being run is good and there is no real need for change,” he said.

Cheng and Lyman will replace sitting councilwomen Jan Bridges and Leticia Moore, both of whom chose not to run for reelection.

Mayor Jones praised Bridges and Moore and said they would be missed.

“Jan and Leticia were always well prepared,” he said. “They put in the extra work to understand the issues and brought some levelheadedness to the process. Although I’m sorry to see them go, I think Ann and Greg will be great additions.”

The new city council will be sworn in during a special council meeting on December 2, the deadline by which Contra Costa Registrar Stephen Weir must certify the election results.  The public is invited to attend.

El Cerrito Focus writer Sweta Vohra had a local story about Prop 4 in El Cerrito: You can find it here.

From Berlin, to Dubai, to Buenos Aires read the world’s reactions on this New York Times Blog.

Let me know your thoughts and feelings from the streets of El Cerrito, (or from wherever you are reading).

Leave a comment or email me at danielmcglynn@gmail.com.

His ballot counted in last night’s election, but it may have been cast in vain: The Associated Press reports that Chamberlain voted for McCain. Florida was blue in this election for the first time this century, last voting for a Democrat in 1996.

ABC News also reports that Barack Obama’s grandmother, who died just a day before her grandson was elected the nation’s first black president, also had her vote counted. Madelyn Dunham put her absentee ballot in the mail on Oct. 27 and she helped send all four of Hawaii’s electoral votes to Obama last night. Dunham was 86.

A victory by Franken would up the Democrat’s advantage in the senate to at least 55. Currently, Yahoo! reports the Democrats have 54 seats to the Republicans’ 40. Independents control two seats in the senate, and Yahoo! has not declared a winner in four close senate races.

The two independents, former Democrat Sen. Joe Lieberman and Sen. Bernie Sanders, currently caucus with the Democrats.

Toles from the Washington Post

Check out some other election result political cartoons here.

Watch a video from the Wall Street Journal.

The story in the BBC says, “There are expectations that Democrats will speed up economic measures to boost the world’s largest economy.”

Other good news – the dollar strengthened following the election night results.  Maybe now is the time to plan that European vacation.