Politics & Government

Election Results: Lin and Chau Clinch Assembly Race

See what former San Marino Mayor Matthew Lin and opponent Montebello School Board member Ed Chau told Patch about each other and the November election, following Tuesday's primary results.

Polls for Tuesday’s primary election closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/LA County Clerk released preliminary voting tallies that Arcadia Patch updated for over six hours on its live blog.

In the 49th District Assembly race, former San Marino Mayor and Republican Dr. Matthew Lin was ahead from the start, when only 4.5 percent of precincts were reporting—absentee voters—and he maintained the lead until the end, with 51.3 percent of the vote with 100 percent of voter precincts reporting.

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“They have a whole union—Judy Chu, Mike Eng,” Lin said to Patch of candidate and Montebello School Board Member Ed Chau’s supporters. “It’s not easy for me to run a race.”

However, Lin told Patch Tuesday night—technically Wednesday morning since it was just after midnight—that he was not surprised by his significant lead ahead of Chau, a Democrat, who garnered 35.9 percent of the vote with 78 percent of precincts reporting at the time. Chau later showed 35.6 percent of the vote with 100 percent of precincts reporting.

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“I do not have any special interests behind me,” said Lin, who is supported by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich (who won re-election Tuesday) and Sheriff Lee Baca. “Ed Chau is backed by special interests. In the future he’ll probably have to do exactly what those people want. I’m much more independent than Ed Chau.”

Chau is backed by incumbent 49th District Assemblyman Mike Eng, who is termed out in November, and Eng’s wife Rep. Judy Chu, who is running to represent Arcadia in the newly drawn 27th Congressional District.

Chau told Patch that Lin’s significant lead was “somewhat expected since we have two Democrats running in the race,” but added, “Because of the presidential election in November, I believe there will be more Democrats coming out to vote and that will play to my favor.”

Democrat Mitchell Ing, who has been largely silent during the Assembly race but openly critical of his view that Chau moved to the district to run for Assembly, earned 13.2 percent of the vote.

Lin told Patch that Ing called him and offered to endorse him in the November election.

“It’s a non-issue,” Chau told Patch of those who question his residency. “I’m the candidate who has served the district the longest and covered the largest area—Montebello, Monterey Park, San Gabriel. I’ve had a law practice in Alhambra for more than 10 years.”

Chau said his top four priorities are job creation, improving public education, public safety and cleaning up the environment.

“I need to work hard, presuming I’m one of the top two,” said Chau when 78 percent of precincts were reporting.

Looking forward to November, Lin also said he plans to work hard learning more about state issues, particularly jobs.

Check back on Patch for further election updates.

What do you think of the preliminary election results? Who do you support? Tell us in the comments section below.


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