COUNCIL VICTORY ELUSIVE WESTE LEADS HEIDT BUT SURPRISE ENDING POSSIBLE.

Byline: Amy Raisin Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Laurene Weste has claimed victory in this week's City Council election, yet she holds just a 296-vote lead over challenger Jan Heidt with more than 400 ballots yet to be counted.

City officials said they expect the official count to be completed by Tuesday but must first verify signatures on all mail-in ballots and then run each one through a counting machine.

``We're waiting for some signature verification from the county,'' said Santa Clarita City Clerk Sharon Dawson. ``I can't speculate what the results will be. Results are unofficial until they are certified by me.''

Weste, who came in third in Tuesday's race with 5,179 votes, said she is confident that she will continue serving on the City Council.

``I believe that to be true. We had an election and we're finishing the election process,'' Weste said.

Heidt, who earned 4,883 votes, made a brief statement when contacted at her home Thursday.

``Statistically, there's no way to change anything,'' Heidt said.

The waiting game conjures the memory of a 1999 dispute in which the William S. Hart Union High School District board demanded a recount after voters narrowly defeated a $52 million school construction bond. The recount found that the bond failed by 31 votes.

While the City Council election results are not being contested, provisional ballots were at issue in both elections. There are about 120 provisional ballots - given to voters whose names are not on the poll lists but who are permitted to vote pending review by the registrar - left to be certified.