Fresno voters on Tuesday chose Henry T. Perea and Ashley Swearengin as top vote-getters in a crowded field of 11 candidates for mayor, sending the two on to a November runoff.
Unofficial final results showed Perea with about 28% and Swearengin with about 27% of the vote.
Analysis of the results show a north-south split between the two leading candidates. Swearengin dominated voting north of Shaw Avenue, while Perea carried most precincts to the south.
As the early results came in, Swearengin said she was pleased with her strong showing.
"This is a moment we've been working toward for a long time," Swearengin said. "People are ready for an outsider with business experience. People are ready for Fresno to move forward, and that's what my campaign brings to the table."
Swearengin said that for Tuesday night she was focusing on thanking those who helped her reach the general election.
"Tomorrow, the campaign for November begins," Swearengin said Tuesday night. "We still have a lot of people to reach, and we are going to work hard. People have been very eager to help me, and we are going to marshal that energy."
Perea, celebrating at Granite Park, said he was not surprised at the close vote between him and Swearengin.
"We knew it would be hard fought," he said.
Perea said his campaign will not shift its focus heading into the November general election.
"We're going to keep going with our grass-roots efforts, and keep going door to door," Perea said.
"We will stay focused on the issues -- gangs and drugs, air quality and jobs. We're going to run our campaign based on experience, our record and on the issues."
As he watched early results come in, Mayor Alan Autry -- who was barred by term limits from seeking re-election -- said he was not surprised that Swearengin and Perea finished on top.
"They are two good candidates whose campaigns were well-funded," Autry said. "I know them both very well and think they have good things to offer."
Autry said he would wait to see how they campaign in the coming months before deciding whether to endorse either.
"My instinct is that a former mayor should be just that, but you can't turn in the keys and turn your back on the city," Autry said. "There are good things they'll want to get done, but I hope they'll recognize there are good things in place that need to be kept as well."
Council Member Jerry Duncan was running third in early returns, with 11% of the vote. Former Council Member Tom Boyajian and Deputy Mayor Jeff Eben each had about 9% of the vote, and Boyajian won several precincts in his old council district.
Council Member Mike Dages was sixth, with nearly 8%. Dages, who won only two precincts -- both in south Fresno -- said he was disappointed to have done so poorly at the polls.
"To be honest, I don't know what I did wrong," Dages said. "I did a lot of walking, a lot of mailing and television ads. I guess I just sent the wrong message."
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