By Lizzie Tsuang
Staff Writer
Hermosa Beach residents upheld the city-wide ban on oil drilling at the March 3 Special Municipal Election, with a four to one margin of defeat on Measure O.
Measure O sought residents’ approval of E&B Natural Resources’ oil recovery project located at the Hermosa Beach city maintenance yard.
“I am extremely happy that the voters of Hermosa Beach defeated Measure O,” Heal the Bay activist Jose Bacallao said. “We fought hard for decades to maintain our ban on oil drilling, and once more we did it.”
The unofficial tally of votes stands at 79 percent opposed and 21 percent in favor. According to Hermosa City Clerk Elaine Doerfling, this election may be the largest election turnout in decades, with potentially 60 percent of registered voters participating.
“Our community took a stand against oil drilling, and it’s great that so many people were involved at the polls,” Stop Hermosa Beach Oil committee member Kevin Sousa said.
According to Doerfling, there is estimated to be 1,500 mail-in ballots and 1,000 provisional ballots left to count. However, the number of remaining ballots will not be sufficient to reverse the standing margin.
Doerfling anticipates the official results to be presented for certification by Tuesday.
“I think the ballot numbers were resounding that our community does not want oil, and I am very happy about that,” Hermosa Beach Mayor Pro Tem Nanette Barragan said.
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