The iconic water tower in Galt. 

GALT, CA (MPG) – Challenger Tom Silva is leading in the race for the District 5 seat on the City Council here, according to unofficial results from Sacramento County.  

Silva has 489 votes to incumbent Paul Sandhu’s 457 as of 1:36 a.m. Nov. 4. Two other City Council seats have already been decided because the candidates ran unopposed.

Mayor Bonnie Rodriguez was reelected and will serve District 3. Mark Jackson ran unopposed for the District 1 seat. This is the first time council members will represent individual districts rather than the city at large.

“I’m thrilled to be leading,” said Silva, while admitting his lead is not a comfortable one.

Sandhu has served two terms and would be OK if Silva wins, he said. He will accept the voice of the people, whatever the official results are, he said.

The results are “very preliminary,” said Ken Casparis, spokesperson with Sacramento County.  

Mail-in ballots had to be postmarked by Election Day, but the ballots will be counted if they arrive within seven days following Election Day, he said.  

It’s likely less than half of the ballots the county will receive have been received, he said.

The election office will have an estimate Nov. 4 of how many ballots are left to count, Casparis said. The next update to the results will be Nov. 6.