Gutierrez ekes out promotion

In a reversal of the election-night returns, Graciela Gutierrez wound up narrowly winning the race for Butte County auditor-controller.

The final results of the June 5 election had Gutierrez (pictured) edging Kathryn Mathes by 271 votes out of 48,360 cast—just over a half-percent difference. Election night, Mathes had a 467-vote advantage, 1.4 percent. The Clerk-Recorder Office certified the election results Wednesday morning (July 20).

Gutierrez, currently assistant auditor-controller, will succeed retiring David Houser. Mathes, Chico’s city accounting manager, has five days to request a recount.