Redwood City Parks and Recreation Commissioner Marcella Padilla has been elected to the city council to represent district 7 after beating opponent Diana Reddy.
Reddy, who conceded in a letter to the editor in the San Mateo Daily Journal earlier this week, congratulated Padilla on her win.
“I wish her success as she assumes this new role in serving our community,” Reddy said in the letter.
The latest election results, released on Wednesday, Nov. 20, show Padilla (54.07%) up by 3,163 votes against Reddy (45.93%), who received 2,687 votes. The county elections office still has 800 unprocessed ballots, and the votes will be certified on Dec. 13.
Padilla and Reddy have already made announcements on social media.
“There have been lots of check-ins and updates along the way, but it looks like I have been in a good position at every check-in,” Padilla said.
While Padilla celebrated her victory on an Instagram post, Reddy shared her letter to the editor about conceding on Facebook.
“I’m disappointed with the results, but it was a great experience connecting with the residents,” said Reddy.
Reddy served as a council member and vice mayor from 2018 to 2022 until the redistricting process of Redwood City placed her in district 7, which was not up for election until 2024.
But she is determined to stay involved in the community in other ways. Reddy told this publication she would be starting a Redwood City Chapter of Showing Up For Racial Justice “to organize white people to fight racial justice.”
“I’m very active in social justice work,” Reddy added. “It’s really important for white people to stand up and declare their opposition to hate and to racists and other statements of discrimination.”
As for Padilla, she will step into her first term on the council after serving as a Parks and Recreation commissioner for over a decade.
“I’m so grateful to my community for supporting me and sharing the same vision for our city,” she added. “I’m really excited for the work ahead.”
Padilla will start her term on Monday, Dec. 9, serving until it ends in November 2028.
The city council transition ceremony on Dec. 9 will take place at Redwood City Hall and feature the installation of the mayor, vice mayor, and newly elected council members, including Padilla.
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