Sheila Kuehl (Matt Tinoco/Neon Tommy)

UPDATE: Kuehl came out on top last night, and will replace the esteemed Zev Yaroslavsky representing the third supervisoral district in L.A. County. Numbers from the L.A. County Registrar reveal Kuehl won comfortably: Kuehl--114,348 Votes (52.78%) Shriver 102,319 (47.22%)

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Below is an article filed from Kuehl's campaign party on election night by Matthew Tinoco

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Bubbly would be a word to describe the scene around me at Sheila Kuehl’s campaign bash.

Although the results are not yet in, the omnipresence of wine helps both staffers and supporters gloss over the ultimate uncertainty: will their hard work (and hard cash) elect Sheila Kuehl to the county board of supervisors?

Kuehl is confident, expressing to Neon Tommy how she received a full nine hours of sleep last night.

“It’s up to the voters now,” Kuehl explained. “We’ve worked for two years to get to this point, and now we just have to wait patiently.”

If she wins, at least she’ll be well-rested for the monumental task ahead of her. The five supervisors sit atop of a behemoth bureaucratic agency, representing more than 10 million people in Los Angeles County.

The board oversees a 26 billion dollar budget, including jurisdiction over L.A. County’s Department of Public Health, Metro, and the always troubled County Sheriff’s department. 

If she wins, Kuehl will be able to apply 14 years of legislative experience to the job, including eight in the California state senate. Supporters point to her intelligence as a key trait.

“She has this wealth of experience that will inform everything she will need to do this position,” explained Shelly Ruebans, a supporter from Pacific Palisades. ”Having connections in Sacramento and understanding how the system works will play to her benefit. She’s a very smart and devoted lady.”

If she wins, Kuehl emphasizes her priority on working to improve existing county services, notably the county’s aged foster care system.

“It’s a very human, and very complicated service, involving lots of moving parts. And we just haven’t been able to pull them all together at the county level, and it’s hurting the kids,” said Kuehl.

She also emphasized reform for County Health, and to focus Los Angeles County’s transportation on first and last mile options.

Keep with Neon Tommy for continued election coverage.

Follow Senior Reporter Matthew Tinoco on Twitter here.