Incumbent Erik Weigand took an early lead in the Newport Beach City Council District 3 race on Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to Patch, which reported that Weigand and the city's other incumbents held strong leads shortly after polls closed.

Weigand faced two challengers: Walter Stahr, an author and local volunteer, and Tim Stoaks, a retired construction executive. All three are Republicans. The district represents Dover Shores, Castaways and Santa Ana Heights along Upper Newport Bay, according to the Orange County Register.

The results are partial. The Orange County Registrar of Voters posted the first round of early voting results at 8:05 p.m. on Nov. 3, with updates following every 30 minutes. Vote counting is expected to continue in the days ahead. Voters can track updated tallies at ocvote.gov/results.

Under Newport Beach's hybrid system, all registered voters citywide cast ballots for district seats. Weigand first joined the council in 2022.

The police station question

The fight over where to build a new police headquarters defined the District 3 race.

The city's current police headquarters off Jamboree Road is more than 50 years old. No one disputes the need for a new building. One option under study would place the new headquarters on Civic Center Park near City Hall, converting several acres of the sculpture garden that includes the "Bunnyhenge" installation. The city has allocated at least $1.5 million to evaluate that option, LAist reported. No final decision has been made.

Stahr entered the race specifically to oppose the park site. "I am 100% opposed to a jail in the park. That is my number one issue," Stahr said at a candidate forum in September, according to LAist.

Stoaks also opposes the park plan. He has said he would rather see police substations in areas like the Balboa Peninsula, according to the OC Register.

Weigand has said he supports studying the Civic Center site to determine whether it works. If it proves infeasible, he has said the city should look at nearby properties in Newport Center.

Fundraising gap

Campaign disclosure forms released Sept. 24 showed a significant fundraising gap, the Daily Pilot reported. Stahr had collected more than $215,000 in contributions, including a $65,000 personal loan. Weigand had raised roughly $78,000 through Sept. 19. Stoaks trailed both, with $2,600 from three contributors and a $2,000 personal loan.

The city's police and firefighter unions spent heavily to support Weigand and the other incumbents. The Newport Beach Firefighters Association spent about $138,000 combined on advertising for Weigand, Joe Stapleton and Lauren Kleiman as of Oct. 9, Voice of OC reported. The Newport Beach Police Association spent about $60,000 combined on the same three candidates as of Oct. 7.

The OC Register is tracking results across Orange County races, including Newport Beach, on its live results page.