It is probably somewhat inappropriate to describe post-election analysis as “afterbirth,” but oh well…

- Don Kuehne ran his campaign as an incumbent, and in almost every single way, he was. Kuehne was hand-picked by Charleen Raines as her successor, and he received the endorsement of the entire City Council. That being said, Kuehne had a disastrous evening at Candidate’s Night, and won by the slimmest of margins. He was ‘this’ close to being upset.

- John Delgado was the newcomer, having moved to Hercules just five years ago. Delgado didn’t engage his opponents however. He didn’t outwardly challenge Kuehne, Ed Balico or Joanne Ward. He wasn’t looking to make enemies. And he probably didn’t make any. And he lost by the slimmest of margins.

- Ed Balico laid claim that all that was good in the City was his doing, and all that was bad (Walmart, delays in Waterfront development), he had nothing to do with. This tactic apparently worked, and he received the most votes.

- Days after the election, news came that Balico has held a potential conflict-of-interest, which he still denies, although his denial is extremely rich (the “five or six local people” turned out to be his son and daughter). Only Balico could turn a mild conflict-of-interest case (simply disclose it and move on) into the Watergate burglary. I guess it is more exciting that way.

- The Contra Costa Times Editorial Board made no effort with its endorsement of the status quo. It didn’t track the coverage coming through its own news division (the Szabo plan uprising, the looming Balico conflict-of-interest story), nor did it embrace the idea of a change election. In the end, the board did the easiest thing it could do: endorse the incumbents. Why change if nothing is broken? Well, things were broken, and they still are, and there is always room for improvement.

- In my opinion, there were three slates (out of a possible four) that the Times’ board could have endorsed:

• Balico-Ward-Kuehne: status quo;
• Ward-Kuehne-Delgado: change election, policy over politics; and
• Balico-Kuehne-Delgado: politicos.

Either of the last two would have made headlines, created a stir, created controversy. But the Contra Costa Times Editorial Board decided to have none of that; they encouraged Hercules residents to “stay the course” in the midst of a change election.

- Sixty-five people voted for a write-in. John Delgado lost by less than half of that margin. Who did these people vote for? Santa Claus? Frank Batara?