WATSONVILLE >> Incumbent Councilman Jimmy Dutra maintained a lead in the Watsonville City Council race for District 6 Wednesday.

In the latest round of results posted Wednesday morning, Dutra held 54.1% of the vote ahead of former Councilwoman Trina Coffman-Gomez at 45.4%

The election came two months after Dutra was found liable by a civil jury for $1.1 million in damages on the complaints that he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old boy in 2005. Dutra has continued to deny that the incident ever occurred, emphasizing that it was a case of revenge and money. He pointed out that a witness in the lawsuit was his father’s girlfriend, whom he had just gotten out of a contentious litigation over his father’s estate and vowed in September to appeal. A post disposition hearing for a new trial is scheduled for Nov. 25.

Dutra previously served a four-year term on the council from 2014 to 2018 and was elected to another term in 2020, serving as mayor in 2021. In his campaign statement, he talked about some of the council’s accomplishments during his tenure, including support for renovations at Ramsay Park and City Plaza, advocating for vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, distributing information during the floods and revitalizing the old Kmart Center on Freedom Boulevard, which now houses a Vallarta Supermarket in the former retail giant’s space that closed in 2021. Among the priorities in his campaign were continuing to improve roads and enhance neighborhood lighting, and investing in youth and mental health programs.

Dutra expressed his gratitude to various parties in a statement.

“I would like to thank the voters of District 6, my supporters, volunteers and especially my mom for helping in what is appearing to be my successful re-election,” he wrote. “Politics can be challenging and disheartening for so many of us. But if we work together we can do anything. I’ve been a strong advocate for my community and I am known to not be a rubber stamp. I do what is right for the people. I promise to continue being that independent voice who always prioritizes the amazing people of our city. Again, I want to express my deep gratitude to the voters for entrusting me with what is appearing to be another term as their representative.”

Coffman-Gomez, a local mortgage broker, previously served on the council from 2012 to 2020. Her priorities included a strategic plan for addressing homelessness, diversifying housing and moving along progress on the South County rail trail.

Coffman-Gomez was briefly reached Wednesday from Mexico where she was doing service projects for the Freedom Club of Rotary. She remained in good spirits.

“They are what they are,” she said of the results. “One way or the other, time will move on.”

District 6 was the only contested City Council election in Watsonville. Incumbents Eduardo Montesino and Vanessa Quiroz-Carter ran unopposed in Districts 1 and 2 respectively.

Watsonville also had two measures to vote on, both of which appeared to be leading by large margins Wednesday morning.

Measure V sought to amend the city charter to allow all residents to serve on boards and commissions regardless of voter status. It led with 56.4% of the “Yes” vote, compared to 43.6% of the “No” vote. Measure W sought to modify the city charter’s language by, among other things, updating the qualifications for city manager, adjusting the mayor’s salary, allowing the council to set compensation for members of the Planning Commission and changing the Library Board to a commission. It led with 58% of the “Yes” vote, compared to 42% of the “No” vote.

The next round of results will be posted Thursday.