A proposed half-cent sales tax increase appears to have failed in Santee, while the mayor and a City Council member will finish well ahead of their challengers in the Nov. 5 election. With about 1.5 million votes counted and 20,000 left uncounted countywide, election results released Thursday showed Santee’s Measure S failing with about 48% of voter support. The measure was about 1,300 away from the needed majority to pass. The measure would have raised the city’s sales tax by a half-cent for 15 years to support fire protection and emergency response services, including new strategically located fire stations. Santee has not had a new station since 1964. In the mayoral race, two-term incumbent and former San Diego Police detective John Minto easily defeated his only challenger, Kelli O’Brien, with about 78% of the votes. In the District 4 City Council race, incumbent and TDT Construction owner Dustin Trotter also was well ahead of challenger August Scalzitti, a former director of the Padre Dam Municipal Water District, with about 62% of the votes. Incumbent Councilmember Laura Koval also was on the ballot, but ran unopposed to represent District 3. Trotter’s election to the council in 2020 was among the closest in the county’s history, with the final tally showing he won by only five votes. Infrastructure and traffic had been among the top priorities of the candidates during this year’s campaign. In his mayoral re-election bid, Minto said his accomplishments included securing funds to ease congestion on state Route 52 and southbound Interstate 15 to eastbound SR-52. O’Brien declined to be interviewed by The San Diego Union-Tribune but in other interviews had said she is focused on accountability and safety as top priorities. Trotter said that during his time on the council, the city had invested $44 million in road repairs and capital improvements, the largest amount ever spent by the city. Scalzitti also listed traffic and high-density housing as priorities in his campaign.