Challengers sweep Sandpoint council vote

SANDPOINT — Voters turned out the incumbent City Council members on Tuesday, according to unofficial results.

Marsha Ogilvie cleaned up at the polls by winning 641 votes, the most of all candidates competing for three of the council’s four-year seats. Jamie Davis followed with 564 votes and Justin Schuck had 536, city Clerk Maree Peck said.

Councilman John O’Hara just missed the cut with 532 votes. Fellow incumbents Michael Boge and Helen Newton finished the race with 496 votes and 451, respectively.

John Reuter, running unopposed for the two-year seat, had 737 votes.

The second time was the charm for Sandpoint’s water bond measure. The ballot issue tanked in May, but was shown overwhelming support on Tuesday.

It cleared the polls by 68 percent, with 763 ballots cast in favor and 367 cast in opposition, according to Peck.

A total of 1,146 Sandpoint voters cast ballots on Tuesday, resulting in a turnout of 29 percent.

A special meeting will held on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall to canvass the results.

In Ponderay, incumbent Steve Geiger Jr. and hopeful John Darling won the race for two of that city council’s four-year seats. Geiger won 75 votes and Darling won 46.

Incumbent Councilwoman Sherry Blood was voted from office after receiving 41 votes. Former Mayor Jesse DeMers’ council run ended with 37 votes.

The closest race in all the municipal elections occurred in Hope, where voters approved a permanent levy override in a squeaker. The measure needed 60-percent voter approval.

“We made it — but by one vote,” said Mayor Larry Keith.

In an unofficial tally, 28 voters supported the measure and 18 voters opposed it. Keith figured it needed at least 27 votes to pass.

The measure means the city will collect $45,000 instead of the typical $25,000 from landowners.

“Getting 60 percent is not easy, especially when you’re talking about people’s pocketbooks,” said Keith, who did not stand for re-election this year.

Joe Dean defeated Wendle Bergman 31-15 in the contested race for Hope mayor, according to unofficial results. Phil Dreisbach and Bob Lizotte each collected 40 votes in their unchallenged runs for two council seats.

A special council meeting to canvass the results of the election is set for today.

Dover Mayor Randy Curless declined on Tuesday to release the unofficial results of the two uncontested races for two council seats. Maggie Becker and Doug Darling ran unopposed.

In Kootenai, David Sundquist and Crystal Closson, both of whom ran unopposed, picked up 25 votes and 24 votes, respectively.

Jeff Jeffers was the hands-down winner of the contested mayor’s race in Clark Fork. Jeffers had 79 votes to Reed’s 20, according to unofficial results. Roger Anderson and Russ Schenck ran uncontested for the two council seats, with Anderson winning 81 votes and Schenck getting 74.

Vickie St. Martin dropped out of the Clark Fork City Council race, said Mayor Tom Shields, who also did not seek re-election.

Ed Butler and Dan Shanahan each won 48 votes for two of the East Hope council’s four-year seats. Trecy Carpenter came away with 38 votes in that race. Mayor Paul Madden garnered 70 votes in his unchallenged bid for re-election, unofficial results indicate.