Winners in Crucial Central Contra Costa County Elections

With nearly all precincts reporting, incumbent Gus Kramer was ahead in the race for Contra Costa County Assessor, Mark Peterson and his rival, William "Dan" O'Malley, appeared headed for a runoff in he race for Contra Costa District Attorney, and David Livingston was elected the new Sheriff.

With 619 of 628 precincts reporting: 

Concord Police Chief David Livingston was elected Sheriff with 56 percent of the vote to Lt. Brian Kalinowski's 44 percent

Mark Peterson and Dan O'Malley appear headed for a November runoff, after Peterson failed to win more than 50 percent of the vote. He received 47.6 percent,  O'Malley 36 percent. Elle B. Falahat was trailing with nearly 16 percent.

Assessor

Gus Kramer won with a comfortable lead of 55 percent over John T. Nejedly, who came in second with nearly 25 percent;  Bob Brooks received 14 percent.

During the election, Kramer's ethics had come under question due to his investments in rental housing and an employment discrimination suit against him that the county settled. Kramer's pitch to voters? His aggressive move to lower property taxes for people whose homes are now worth less than they paid for them.