Alameda Mayor Trish Herrera Spencer and Councilmember Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft are at an Election stalemate. But shortly after midnight, Ezzy Ashcraft overtook the incumbent mayor and later extended her lead to 131 votes, with 67 percent of ballots counted. [Updated at 2 a.m.}

Spencer, who was elected by small margin four years ago, has 4,517 (38.33 percent) to Ezzy Ashcraft’s 4,648 (39.44 percent).

Councilmember Frank Matarrese remains a strong, by distant third with 2,546 votes (21.61 percent).

The early release of vote-by-mail results gave Spencer a nearly two percentage point lead, which quickly shrank close to midnight Tuesday.

The early result puts the City Council race for two open seats in a new perspective. If Ezzy Ashcraft is able to overtake Spencer, the third-place vote-getting the council race, under the city’s charter, would fill the remaining two years of her council term.

John Knox White currently leads the field 25.24 percent of the vote over former Councilmember Tony Daysog (24.20 percent). Both are in the driver’s seat for victory Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, Councilmember Jim Oddie’s re-election remains in doubt. Oddie was previously fourth behind Robert Matz for the potential third spot. But Oddie shot over Matz for third and has extended the advantage to 119 votes.

Alameda voters appear likely to reject the landlord-backed Measure K rent charter amendment. The measure is failing 57 percent to 43 percent, as of Tuesday night.

Measure F, the city’s sales tax increase, meanwhile is headed toward victory. It leads, 61-39 percent.

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