Ibarra-Pallas race on ice

REDWOOD CITY

About 5,000 more absentee ballots have been counted within the past two days, but San Mateo County officials Friday weren't any closer to certifying election results, especially for a few close races.

"We've got roughly 18,000 to go," said David Tom, elections manager. "It's the canvassing period. We're doing audits of all the used and unused ballots before certifying the election itself."

Meanwhile, candidates for the San Bruno and Burlingame city councils, the Jefferson Elementary School District and the Point Montara Fire Protection District have to sit tight. Approximately 161,000 ballots have been counted since Tuesday night. Absentee ballots must be checked individually for authenticity, Tom said.

The results could change the outcome in such races as the one for Burlingame City Council, where incumbent Cathy Baylock's lead over John Root is shrinking.

"We're here with lots of people praying for me and hanging tight until the other 18,000 ballots are counted in the county," said Baylock, who is wondering if she will be re-elected to the Burlingame City Council.

Currently vice mayor, she is expected to be the city's next mayor.

Root said Friday that the outcome is out of his hands.

"I'm encouraged, obviously," he said. "I don't know how meaningful the absentee ballots are, but it's going the right direction. I just have to sit andwait I guess."

As of Friday, Baylock was 31 votes ahead.

"As my husband says, it's democracy in action, or should we say slow motion," she said.

Incumbent Ken Ibarra is ahead of incumbent Chris Pallas by 114 votes in the San Bruno City Council race, and in the Point Montara Fire Protection District, retired firefighter Alexander King was ahead of incumbent Bruce MacKimmie by four votes.

In the Jefferson Elementary School District, Hans Hansen is ahead of Jefferson Elementary Trustee John Armfield by 165 votes.

Measure Q -- Millbrae's proposed 10 percent tax on park-and-fly lots that would bring in $50,000 -- is failing. So far, 2,609 have opposed the measure and 2,632 have supported it.