Tony Blain and incumbent Caylin Frank were still ahead Monday evening in the race for two open seats on the Poway City Council.

Blain was holding his lead in the District 2 election with 37.81%, followed by Vanessa Springett at 34.18% and Jared Wilson at 28.01%.

Blain, 58, is a family physician who has served in the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Army for 33 years. He is a colonel in the California Army Reserve National Guard.

With a lead of 252 votes, Blain said he was confident he could be elected to the City Council.

“People want change,” Blain said Monday. “They are tired of the mayor and City Council members getting elected and doing what they want to do instead of what the people want. I represent change and a fresh new face.”

Courtesy Tony BlainDistrict 2 Candidate Tony Blain (Courtesy Tony Blain)

One of Blain’s goals has been to get a term limits measure on this year’s ballot that restricts the mayor and council members to no more than two four-year terms. However, his group, Poway Term Limits, was unable to get enough signatures by the deadline to qualify the initiative for the ballot.

He indicated Monday that he would work to get the measure on the 2026 ballot. One of his plans, he said, is to ask council members at their Dec. 3 meeting or soon after to voluntarily place it on the ballot.

Blain said his other goals, if elected, would be to create a Planning Commission, Traffic Safety Committee, and Development Review Board “to regulate and improve all future development and traffic safety issues in the city of Poway.”

The opening of the District 2 seat came about with Anita Edmondson leaving her seat. Edmondson was appointed by a unanimous vote of the council in summer 2023 to fill a vacancy after Councilmember Barry Leonard resigned due to “recent changes in his life.”

Edmondson agreed not to seek office in the November 2024 election at the council’s request.

Springett, 55, has more than 30 years of experience as a businesswoman and mortgage broker. She also served on Poway’s Budget Review Committee and has been secretary of the Green Valley Civic Association. She said she understands budgets, managing people and the importance of clear communication.

Wilson, 41, is a San Diego police lieutenant who has experience as a 911 dispatcher, police officer and sergeant. Wilson has said he would focus on recreation, roads and ensuring the Fire Department is ready to battle wildfires.

In District 4, Frank still had a small lead, 50.24% over her challenger, Jenny Maeda, who had 49.76% of the vote. The vote count of 2,321 votes for Frank versus 2,299 votes for Maeda was a difference of only 22 votes.

Frank, 38, has served on the City Council for six years and is currently deputy mayor. She said she has worked to protect small businesses, enhance parks, acquire more open space and provide affordable housing for seniors, veterans and families.

Frank said by text on Monday that she was out of town this week.

“I am watching the votes carefully and hope to continue serving the residents of District 4,” she said.

Courtesy Caylin FrankDistrict 4 Incumbent Caylin Frank (Courtesy Caylin Frank)

Maeda, 43, teaches at a homeschool co-op, Christian Family Schools of Poway. If elected, Maeda said she would work to restore trust, audit the permit process for businesses, investigate “high” water rates, and acquire land to preserve open space.

Maeda said Monday that she ran a grassroots campaign and thought the race had been competitive as her opponent, Frank, had endorsements, party support, the advantage of being an incumbent and more funding.

Maeda said she had volunteers help her knock on doors and print flyers from their home printers.

“I never expected it to be this close,” Maeda said. “She had political connections and I’m a nobody. I think people are unhappy with the direction the city is taking, it’s not so much that they like me.”

Courtesy Jenny MaedaDistrict 4 Candidate Jenny Maeda (Courtesy Jenny Maeda)

She added that she decided to run for office since no other opponents stepped up.

“I’ve supported other candidates in the past but I have never held political office,” Maeda said.