Final count of the outstanding 41 election ballots Tuesday evening placed Sean Maidy as the second assembly seat victor, just two votes ahead of opponent Paul Rogers at 414-412. Maidy, originally behind Rogers by three votes in an unofficial counting last week, credits his victory to supporters showing up to the polls that hadn’t before.
“I had a good friend of mine tell me that he voted for the very first time, and I’m pretty sure he’s one of those two votes that put me over the top,” Maidy said during Tuesday’s canvass. “So I just want to say thank you to the people that have never voted, and I’m honored that they did it for me.”
According to official results from Tuesday’s election canvass, Will Prisciandaro, who won the first assembly seat, gained additional support for a total of 468 votes. Barbara Mulford received 387 votes.
Rogers said he surprised how close the race was. When asked if he’ll run again in the future, suggested by Mayor Jan Hill for unsuccessful candidates, he said only time will tell.
Proposition 1 failed in Haines Highway, Mud Bay and Lutak in a vote to raise property taxes and create three on-call police service areas. Upper valley residents voted it down 100-40; Mud Bay, 71-43 and Lutak 14-10.
Ballot Initiative 1, proposed by Tom Morphet to elect boards and commissions instead of appoint them, failed by a margin of 315 votes; 592- 277.
Michael Wald, who ran unopposed for the school board, raked in 648 votes.
Voter turnout this year was lower than last by 190 ballots. Turnout was 37 percent this year compared to 48 percent in 2017.
Certification of the election is scheduled for the Oct. 23 assembly meeting, and terms for newly elected officials will begin that evening.