Pasadena Councilman and mayoral candidate Victor Gordo was hoping to cap his Election Day with a victory on Tuesday night. But first things first – getting out to vote, presumably for himself.
Gordo arrived with his wife Kelly, son Michael, 14, and daughter Emma, 13, at around 2:15 p.m. at the Villa Parke Community Center polling place, shaking a few hands on the way in and fielding a few congratulations and good lucks on the way out.
“Thanks, guys, much appreciated,” Gordo replied to his well-wishers.
The District 5 councilman is running against incumbent Mayor Terry Tornek as well as Jason Hardin and Major Williams. Polls were set to close at 8 p.m.
“It’s very exciting. Whatever happens, I’m very excited,’’ Gordo said as he stood in the bright sunshine outside the polling place.
He affected a relaxed, casual vibe – wearing a white dress shirt that was open at the collar and bore an “I Voted” sticker, as well as black slacks.
“It’s not very often you get to be the local paper boy who sold flowers at the Rose Bowl and get to run for mayor of the greatest city in the world,” he said after voting – a process that took him perhaps 15 minutes, after he got some quick instructions on navigating L.A. County’s new electronic voting machines from a poll worker.
As Gordo punched in his choices, with his family gathered around the voting machine, his sister snapped pictures for the family scrapbook.
“We’re very excited – excited for victory,” his wife Kelly Gordo said earlier, as the family stood together in line, waiting to check in.
After departing the polling place, candidate Gordo was planning to monitor the results with campaign volunteers.
“The people who are working hard on my campaign as volunteers want to work until 8 p.m., when the polls close,” he told Pasadena Now earlier in the day. “Then we’ll gather and watch the results. We’re excited. We believe there’s momentum citywide and we plan to, to watch the votes come in.”
As he stood outside the polling place, Gordo also reflected on the journey – which could also end in a runoff between the top two vote-getters. That would come in November.
“It’s been a learning and humbling experience to get around to every part of the city,” Gordo said.
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