As elections officials worked to wrap up ballot counts across San Mateo and Santa Clara counties following Tuesday's election, 24th District Assembly candidate Vicki Veenker appears to have clinched second place in one of the state's most contested elections. Menlo Park Councilman Peter Ohtaki and Veenker were initially neck and neck for runner-up in the open primary wherein eight sought to replace Assemblyman Rich Gordon, D-Menlo Park, who is being termed out.