Tony Blain and incumbent Caylin Frank were leading in early results Wednesday morning in the race for two open seats on the Poway City Council.

Also, in early results, Poway voters were handily opposing Measure H, with 68% voting no and 31% in favor.

Blain had a narrow lead in the District 2 election, followed by Vanessa Springett and Jared Wilson.

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.

I think I have a great chance of winning, Blain said Tuesday night about the early results. I put in way more hours than anybody else. I literally knocked on 5,000 doors (while campaigning).

One of Blain’s goals has been to get a term limits measure on this years 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 Wednesday that he would work to get the measure on the 2026 ballot.

Anita Edmondson, the current District 2 council member, 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 had a small lead over her challenger, Jenny Maeda.

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.

Im really grateful to the voters of District 4, and Im glad our message is resonating with the residents, Frank said. I hope to continue serving our residents.

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.

A simple majority of 50% plus one is required for approval of the Measure H, which would allow development of a 30,500-square-foot recreational fitness club with outdoor fitness uses at The Farm residential community.

The Life Time Fitness Center is 10 times the size of the original 2,953-square-foot fitness center that was proposed when The Farm was approved by Poway voters in 2020. The city is requiring another vote to approve a specific plan amendment that allows an increase in the proposed fitness center’s square footage.

In reaction to Measure H’s early results, Green Valley Civic Association President Steven Stone said the association’s members had expressed many concerns about a large commercial fitness facility in a residential neighborhood.

“We’re pleased to see voters throughout Poway overwhelmingly agree with those views,” Stone wrote in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming a fitness center that is more in keeping with the vision set forth in the original specific plan approved by voters.”

Steph Griffin, senior development manager for Minnesota-based Life Time, Inc. which proposed the project, said all the votes have not yet been counted but it appears current results are “not going in our favor.”

“Life Time was prepared to deliver a wonderful community health and wellness asset that operated in seamless harmony as a member of Poway and all that makes it so unique and special,” Griffin wrote in an emailed statement. “Therefore, we are extremely disappointed in the outcome on Measure H but remain steadfast in our 32-plus year history and commitment to help people live healthy, happy lives across North America.”