On Thursday night, the Santa Clarita chapter of the California Republican Assembly (CRA) voted to endorse only one candidate in April’s City Council election. Over 70 people attended Thursday’s meeting, of which 43 paid members were able to vote on seven Republican candidates. In order to earn an official endorsement from the CRA, each candidate needed to secure a 2/3 vote, equal to 28 votes.

The votes were taken in rounds, with each member allowed to vote for one, two or three candidates.

After the first round of voting, David Gauny received 34 votes, assuring his endorsement. No other candidate breached 28 votes, and therefore another round of voting was ordered. Additionally, the CRA dropped the two lowest vote recipients, McLean and Henriquez.

During the second round of voting, members were allowed to vote for only two candidates, since there were only two endorsement slots left.

After the second vote, challenger TimBen Boydston came in first, followed by incumbents Laurene Weste and Frank Ferry, respectively. Even then, however, CRA members failed to give any one candidate more than 28 votes.

As a result, the CRA’s official endorsement for City Council stands at only David Gauny.

According to CRA President Joe Messina, six new members joined the CRA at the beginning of the meeting and were therefore granted permission to vote on the endorsements.

Nine candidates are vying for three seats in April’s City council election, including the three incumbents (I). They are: David Galvan, TimBen Boydston, David Gauny, Daniel Henriquez, Harrison Katz, Frank Ferry (I), Laurene Weste (I), Marsha McLean (I), and Henry Schultz.

Each seat in the Santa Clarita City Council is “at large,” meaning each Council member represents the City as a whole.

There are multiple political organizations in Santa Clarita, including the SCV CRA, the SCV Congress of Republicans, Democratic Alliance for Action and The Democratic Club of the Santa Clarita Valley.