Elections: Allevato's Lead Lengthens

Councilman Sam Allevato’s lead over challenger Kim McCarthy for the second of two seats on the San Juan Capistrano City Council lengthened today when more provisional ballots and absentee ballots turned in at the polls were counted Thursday.

Since the votes were first counted early Wednesday morning, they’ve shown a 273-vote difference between Allevato, who came in second, and McCarthy. Thursday evening, that small gulf grew slightly to a 284-vote difference.

Roy Byrnes, who first served on the City Council in the 1970s, clinched the most votes with 5,051 votes, 25.7 percent of the votes. Allevato’s 4,368 votes make up 22.2 percent. McCarthy received 4,084 votes, or 20.8 percent.

Allevato said Byrnes will quickly learn a lot of issues have changed since his first days on the council.

“I look forward to Roy getting 'up to speed' on all the issues and realizing that the council majority and staff are intelligent considerate people that are working hard on these issues and that his perspective will always be welcomed by me,” Allevato said.

Byrnes said he foresees harmony.

“I expect the five of us will work together OK,” he said in a short statement.

Allevato added that by sending himself and Byrnes back to the council, the voters are placing a premium on experience.