Just after 1 a.m. Wednesday, surrounded by his supporters who waited for the last of the ballots to be counted by the Voter Registrar, Frank Rivero made this announcement.
“Tonight, thanks to the voters, we are victorious. With 53.9 percent of the votes in our favor, Lake County voters have decisively signaled they want change.
I want to thank each and every one of you who supported me, especially those of you who have been by my side from the beginning of the campaign. I am so very grateful for all your hard work. You were a powerful, motivating and sustaining force. I could not have done this without you. This victory is yours.
It”s been a long and hard fought campaign but all that is history now.
From this day forward I will begin the work of proving to the good people of Lake County that their vote really does matter. Very soon I will release my transition plan including the top priorities for my first 90 days in Office. In the meantime, I am going to meet with agency heads, members of the Board of Supervisors and employees to start a working partnership so that come January 5, 2011, when I am sworn in as Lake County Sheriff, I can hit the ground running.”
Rivero also said, “As an elected official you can be sure that I will operate in the interest of all the people ? with an emphasis on all. Further, communication is key to restoring the people”s trust in their Sheriff”s Office. Towards that end, during my campaign I gave two numbers out, my personal cell and home number.
I did this by design and those numbers won”t change. The access you had to me during the campaign will continue and you are free to contact me immediately at 295-6289 or 987-4467.”
Rivero also expressed gratitude to Kelly Cox, Diane Fridley and their staff who, despite mechanical failures and glitches that delayed the results, stayed on the job until the last of the precinct votes were counted. “Thanks to their efforts, the waiting is over and we can all sleep better tonight knowing it”s a new day for Lake County.”
The Voter Registrar has 30 days to certify the final results. With a few votes still to be counted, Frank Rivero”s place as Lake County”s next Sheriff-Coroner is secure with a 7.8 percent lead over his opponent, Rodney K. Mitchell.
For more information, contact Olga Martin Steele, campaign manager at 998-1302.
Olga Martin Steele
Campaign manager
