Giba Wins District 2 Council Seat

Official election results released Friday, Nov. 21 show Moreno Valley Planning Commission Chairman Jeffrey Giba defeating Corey Jackson for the District 2 council seat by a seven-vote margin. Jackson, who initially led the polls, had a final certified vote count of 1,262 - or 21.47 percent - to Giba's final 1,269 - or 21.59 percent - votes. Both Jackson and Giba were candidates in a nine-person race for the seat held by councilman Richard Stewart, who did not run for re-election this year. At one point, Jackson and Giba were tied. Giba, who has been a member of the planning commission for three years, told the Moreno Valley City News Friday afternoon, "Obviously, we're excited about (the results). This election, to me, was an election the good Lord was running, not me." He credited God for the election results and added, "The city needs an infusion of peace, rather than all this fighting going on, and I believe I can bring that" to the council, he said. Jackson did not return calls for comment Friday afternoon. Giba said he did not know whether Jackson would request a recount, which must be made by Nov. 26, according to the Riverside County Registar of Voters. "We are waiting to see what happens," Giba said. "There are a lot of things I want to do and that starts with waiting to see for when I get sworn in." The swearing in ceremony is set for Dec. 9. Yxstian Gutierrez, who won election to the city's District 4 seat with 1,274 (33.52 percent) votes, and LaDonna Jempson, who was elected with 1,905 (76.17 percent) votes to the District 5 seat after residents voted to recall current District 5 representative and current Mayor Pro Tem Victoria Baca, will also be sworn in on this date.