Unofficial numbers show that District 3 challenger Robert Rivas
is set to win by a large margin over incumbent Pat Loe. Rivas
received 68.7 percent of the votes after two of the six precincts
were counted. Said Rivas: ‘I’m excited. We worked really hard, but
I’m cautiously optimistic.’
District 3 challenger Robert Rivas has defeated incumbent Pat Loe by a huge margin in the race for District 3 supervisor, according to unofficial results.
Rivas received 70.9 percent of the votes after all votes were counted – aside from provisional ballots – causing campaign manager and brother Rick Rivas to proclaim a big victory. Loe received 28.8 percent, or 408 votes.
“I think it’s the biggest victory in San Benito County history,” Rick Rivas said earlier tonight before the last of the numbers came in. “With nearly 70 percent of the vote – that margin is unheard of.”
With two candidates in the race, there is no need for a runoff. Robert Rivas said the campaign “wasn’t about me.”
“It was a campaign about our county and our future and generating a new type of energy,” he said.
Rivas talked about how things have changed in the last seven months.
“Running for supervisor really wasn’t in the books six or seven months ago,” Rivas said. “It came to fruition from my brother and I. We thought we needed stronger leaders here and a plan to solve our problems. And we thought I could do that.”
Rivas was excited for what was next, he said.
“I’m excited and I’m grateful,” Rivas said. “Like I told most of the people I met – I’m not going to let them down.”
The atmosphere at his campaign party was full of cheer.
Family members and friends constantly refreshed the county website, telling Rivas the results.
Rivas walked around the room thanking those who were at the party, and others called as they saw the early results.
