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The latest election results, released at 4:22 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15, show Redwood City Parks and Recreation Commissioner Marcella Padilla (54%) leading Diana Reddy (46%) by 465 votes in the Redwood City City Council district 7 race.
“I’m a servant of my community and will work for the residents whether I win or lose,” said Reddy after early results came out at 8:10 p.m. “My life doesn’t stop whether or not I’m on council.”
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 this year.
As for Padilla, this is her debut in the city council elections after serving as the Parks & Recreation Commissioner for over a decade.
Reddy was surrounded by her friends, family and fellow democrats at the Domini Hoskins Black History Museums on election night. The watch party hosted by the San Mateo Democratic Party was also attended by Lisa Gauthier, who is running for San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and Redwood City Councilmember Kaia Eaiken.
Reddy is endorsed by the San Mateo Democratic Party and Councilwoman Eaiken.
“I’ve known her for a long time, she’s open to supporting things I’m interested in,” said Karen Maki, a member of the Democratic Party. “She is a responsible, accountable person with good values.”
Padilla said she attended two watch parties hosted by her neighbors “as it is really nice to be with community and friends.”
She added that while she’s feeling good about being ahead, there will still be another update.
She reflected on her last few weeks of campaigning, during which time she learned more about residents’ concerns regarding child care, traffic and crime.
“Door knocking has been the best part of my campaign, getting to know neighbors, meeting new neighbors and the different concerns that everyone has,” she added.
Reddy, a lifelong Redwood City resident, attended local public schools and still lives in the house where she was raised. She spent 32 years working with the Sequoia Union High School District as the administrative assistant to the superintendent. She has also been a leader for Faith in Action. Reddy previously helped advance hundreds of extremely low-income housing units and distributed 112,000 meals to seniors during the pandemic.
Padilla was raised in a working-class family with solid Mexican and Filipino ties. Her professional life spans a range of fields, including education, public service, and even a stint in the private sector managing budgets at a private jet company. She previously worked to secure park impact fees from developers.
Reddy’s platform, much like her previous campaign, focused on housing, environment and economic justice. An additional priority for her is installing solar panels on all new buildings in Redwood City and switching to electric vehicles. She also intends to find ways to support the Neighborhood Chairs “to enhance pride and community.”
If re-elected, Reddy wants to address the understaffing of several city departments and the high housing costs that make it difficult to attract skilled professionals.
Padilla, on the other hand, focused her platform on pro-environmental policies, transportation, public safety, childcare, strengthening infrastructure and building stronger community engagement.
If elected, Padilla intends to address the city’s projected $9.3 million annual budget deficit by adjusting service fees, finding new income sources, and attracting businesses to boost the city’s tax base. She is advocating for creating a budget stabilization fund and using revenue forecasting models to manage the deficit.
Reddy supports the business license tax modernization measure on the November 2024 ballot. Padilla did not respond to her stand on the measure.
During campaigning, Reddy brought in $8,312 with major support from retired individuals living in and around Redwood City. In a sharp contrast, Padilla raised $26,460 in contributions this calendar year. She invested in her campaign by issuing herself a $11,000 loan.
This is a developing story. Results will be updated as they come in.
