West, McIntosh and rookie ahead of pack for Wheatland council

Two incumbents and a political rookie were poised to take seats on the Wheatland City Council.

Incumbent Rick West was leading a five-way race late on Tuesday for three council seats.

West, 49, was the front-runner by 16 voters over Wheatland native and political new comer, Joe Henderson.

Incumbent Lisa McIntosh was third.

Final Yuba County totals were not available at 12:45 a.m. today.

"I'm excited to get voted in and I'm looking forward to getting to work," Henderson said. "I'll do the best I can for the people of Wheatland."

Henderson, a 32-year-old real estate agent, campaigned on a promise to encourage new business opportunities in Wheatland.

West, who works for CVC Construction in Sacramento, was first elected to the council in 2008.

McIntosh, 43, took office in 2001 and recently said she was proud of her tenure in office, which has seen the city move from the red to the black financially.

Former council member Roy Crabtree and anti-tax advocate Benjamin Bartholomew were trailing by wide margins.

Crabtree was seeking to return to the council after an eight-year absence.

Bartholomew, 27, made headlines earlier this year when he and his brother, Russell, were convicted by a jury on a misdemeanor count of delaying a peace officer.

They were arrested in April after posting banner on Highway 70 that read: "Taxes=Theft.