Russ Munson and Chuck Winn were the leaders in the race for the San Joaquin County Supervisors Fourth District seat encompassing Ripon, Escalon and Lodi in early vote counting Tuesday.

Longtime County Administrator Manual Lopez was in third.

With only 15 of the 106 precincts reporting by 11:15 p.m., Munson, who owns and operates Wine and Roses, had totaled 44 percent of the vote with Winn trailing with 39 percent. Lopez had received 16 percent of the vote.

Unless a candidate receives 50 percent plus one vote there will be a run-off between the two top vote getters in the November general election.

A large percentage of ballots were cast by absentee meaning a preliminary final count may not be completed for several days.

Lopez had spent the evening dining with supporters and family members at a Mexican restaurant in his hometown of Ripon.

Winn, who is mayor of Ripon, was running the City Council meeting in the early evening. Munson could not be reached for comment.

Lopez said his campaign was a learning experience as he knocked on doors for some 45 days, four hours a day. He noted that his 8-year-old grandson Dominic had gone with him one day taking the opposite side of the street handing out fliers. The boy drove a motorized wheelchair, jumping off and running up to the doors, finishing his chore before his granddad. 

“I was disappointed by the number of people who didn’t show up to vote,” he said.

Winn and his wife spent the evening at an election event in Linden with Sheriff Steve Moore’s campaign following his council session at Ripon City Hall. He said he covered most of Escalon and Ripon on foot along with portions of Lodi, Thornton, Woodbridge and Linden.

“I knocked on a lot of doors and met a lot of great people all around the county listening to their views and their concerns,” he said. 

Winn added that he looks forward to continuing his campaign in November if the numbers hold.

He said his major concern is AB 109 realignment for the prison population limits and hopes to get more bed space. The other main issue at hand is the Twin Tunnels that he says will devastate the Central Valley.