This commentary’s headline speaks volumes if for no other reason, the punctuation mark chosen to complete the headline. The headline could have been:What Happened? (question)Or,#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');What Happened! (Exclamation)This commentary weighs in on the local election landscape. No one can deny the so-called red wave that never happened and it’s possible impact on local elections.With the tabulation of the additional 2000 ballots Monday afternoon, the Unofficial results have become crystal clear.• Repeal of City sales tax Measures T and County U were resoundingly defeated.• Congratulations to Fourth District Supervisor-elect Joey Borges• Congratulations to Fifth District Supervisor-elect Dean Wilson.• Congratulations to appointed Harbor Commissioner Gerhard Weber who will fill the second opening. Rick Shepherd was re-elected and will fill the other opening.Del Norte County results were correctly predicted. No real surprises, contrary to the faux RED WAVE which was predicted and never happened across America.A critical mistake was made by Susan Masten in seeking Govenor Newsom’s appointment and ap-peared to have hurt Masten, who has now endured two losses for the Supervisor, one in 1996 and the other this past week.Indeed, I was critical of candidate Masten for her policies, dependence on more government and the questionable sale of her Steelhead Lodge to the Yurok Tribe which derived funding from State Senator Mike McGuire’s Operation Homekey, in Klamath Glen. I believe my comment was QUID PRO QUO. Masten’s defeat is not all her fault. It confuses one to under-stand that those who pushed hardest for candidate Masten enjoy limited popularity in Del Norte County.Gov. Newsom has never won a Del Norte County race after campaigns for Lt. Governor and Governor. State Senator Mike McGuire has never celebrated a victory in Del Norte. Neither has Assemblymember Jim Wood nor our CA-2 congressman. Jared Huffman.I doubt that any of our State and National elected give even a second thought to their failure to identify with the majority of Del Norte voters.Wilson was resolute and clear on his road to finish off the Berkowitz term. Wilson will be up for re-election in 14 months.Patty Adams was unable to galvanize a relationship with the majority of District Four constituents. The endorsement by the Del Norte Republican Party was ineffective, feeble and highly suspect. Adams message was…” go along, get along,” not her “Agent of Change” mantra. Joey Borges from his Primary victory to this win was firm, firm and consistent. Borges is elected to a full four-year term.The race for the second Harbor Commissioner found Republican Central Committee member Ger-hard Weber prevailing over head of the Del Norte Democrat Party by 84 votes. I remain puzzled how the Harbor can be governed in a Republican or Democrat manner. It would appear a healthy dose of nepotism was directed to appointed commissioner Weber who sits on the RCC board yet ran on no platform, no candidate statement and very limited Harbor experience, yet managed the win. It is disappointing to observe these tepid endorsements from the local RCC and because of their sorority-like behavior in touting their own, ignore the actual qualifications of the candidate. I will continue to distance myself from any and all Del Norte County Republican Party association, until changes are made and implemented.The dark horse candidate for Harbor who garnered 2,213 votes just 19 votes behind Hendrick was Annie Nehmer.I hope Annie runs again in 2024.Congratulations to Abby Christ (Dist.2) and Michael Greer (Dist. 5) on their school Board victories it’s my hope these two will lead this Board in returning to Academics, Math and Language Arts proficiency. For too long Del Norte test scores languish on the bottom 25 percent of State test scores. Unacceptable and absolutely tragic.Results remain Unofficial until the first week of DecemberFinal Note: Allow to commend Elections Clerk Alissia Northrup and her staff. The job of “bean counting,” correctly tabulating votes under sometimes difficult circumstances and pressure is admirable. Thank you. Alissia and staff for a job well done.EYE ON DEL NORTERoger Gitlin is a retired Dist. 1 Supervisor and Multi-Subject CLAD Credentialed Teacher. State of California. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });