Tornek: ‘Lot Of Work To Do’ For Expected Runoff Vs. Gordo

Tuesday’s votes were still being counted, but Mayor Terry Tornek on Wednesday was already preparing for what appears an almost certain November runoff against Councilman Victor Gordo for the big seat at City Hall.

“There’s a long pull between now and November and I’ve got a lot of work to do,’’ Tornek told Pasadena Now on Wednesday morning. “The good news is, it gives me time to do what I do best, which is walk and talk to voters, and that’s what I’ll be doing.’’

According to the latest vote tallies reported by the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Gordo, the councilman from the Fifth District, was leading Tornek by 1,138 votes from among more than 23,000 counted.

Gordo had 11,461 votes, or 46.21 percent, to Tornek’s 10,323, or 41.63 percent. Major Williams (2,084 votes, 8.4 percent) and Jason Hardin (932 votes, 3.76 percent) rounded out the field of four.

Tuesday was a see-saw night, as Gordo trailed by some 500 votes when the first results were announced around 9 p.m., an hour after the polls had closed. But by the wee hours of Wednesday, Gordo had pulled ahead to his slim lead.

When the vote-counting is finally completed, if no candidate gets more than 50 percent, there would be a runoff on Nov. 3. It’s a prospect Tornek was reluctantly embracing on Wednesday.

“It’s hard to get 50 percent in a four-person race, and I’m determined to talk to a lot of people between now and November,’’ he said.

He also lamented that the final tallies were not yet known.

“I wish I had more numbers to react to – they’re so far behind (in counting),’’ he said.

As for his strategy between now and November, Tornek said, “We’ll do some things that we didn’t do. But my basic approach is sort of a one-to-one voter approach. … We’ll do a better job in some areas in terms of getting our message out, and I’m optimistic about the outcome.’’

Tornek was asked what that message will be.

“The message is that Pasadena is doing well,’’ he said. “The trendlines are positive. But we’ve got a lot more work to do. There are some areas that really need a lot of attention and experience and skills, which I think I bring to the party. And we’ve identified what those are … and I’ll just keep plugging away at it.

“I’d like to have a chance to sort of get a little further along with some of the things I started, and I hope the voters will give me that chance.’’