The results of this year’s nail-biter assembly race are in. Cheryl Stickler and Caitie Kirby, the top vote-getters, will serve three-year terms while Carol Tuynman and incumbent Jerry Lapp will each serve a one-year term.

At Tuesday’s canvas, Tuynman eked out a victory over incumbent Brenda Josephson. Going into Tuesday, Tuynman had a two-vote lead, 595-593. The margin widened as borough clerk and interim manager Alekka Fullerton and the seated assembly members tallied the 22 qualified absentee and questioned ballots.

“I’m encouraged by the diversity of candidates seated, and… I will work hard to be a team player for fiscal responsibility and moderate policy that supports continuity and stable government,” Tuynman said in an interview after the canvass.

In a farewell speech at the end of Tuesday’s meeting, Josephson said she stands by her decisions in office, including ones that drew criticism from some members of the public.

“People don’t like it when you’re making hard decisions,” Josephson said. “I stand by my hard decisions, and I’m proud that I was able to make those decisions.”

Josephson also had some parting advice for new assembly members.

“Please, do your research. Sometimes, I wondered if people actually finished reading the packet when they came here. Read your packet, learn it, know it,” Josephson said, also mentioning the importance of committee work and honoring code. “One of the big things is code. A code is boss. We’ve got to respect code with what we do. If code doesn’t work, then we need to jump in and change it.”

The final results were 713 votes for Stickler, 703 for Kirby, 691 for Lapp, 609 for Tuynman, 598 for Josephson and 583 for Helen Alten. Douglas Olreud beat incumbent Mayor Jan Hill 810-439. All four uncontested school board candidates were elected, and the proposition to draw $450,000 from the principal of the borough’s permanent fund passed 634-561.

In an interview with the CVN, Stickler remarked on the community’s high voter turnout.

“Congratulations to Haines community members for using their voices at the polls. Our community leads the state in voter turnout percentages, and this speaks clearly about how much we honor the democratic process,” she said.

Haines had roughly 53% voter turnout with a record-setting 1,274 ballots counted.