Citrus Heights City Council races decided by 20 and 26 votes

With all votes counted in Sacramento County, two of the three Citrus Heights City Council races on the ballot were decided by a separation of only 20 and 26 votes.

In The District 2 race, Marijane Lopez-Taff beat Michael Nishimura by 1,972 votes to 1.952. In the District 5 contest, Porsche Middelton topped Natalee Price by 2,004 votes to 1,978.

Middleton is the current appointed Mayor and, with her narrow victory, earned a second four-year term. At one point, Middleton and Price were locked in a tie.

In the third Citrus Heights City Council race, Dr. Jayna Karpnski-Costa easily won the contest for District 4 with 2,149 votes for 49 percent. Karpinski ran against Albert Fox, who captured 31 percent for 1,364 votes, and Manuel Israel Perez-Salazar, who got 19 percent for 858 votes.

With the election of Lopez-Price and Karpinski-Costa, two Sacramento County Republican Party-endorsed candidates will gain seats on the City Council. Price, who lost her challenge, also received the Republican endorsement.

The Democratic Party of Sacramento County endorsed Middleton.