MARIETTA - Six incumbents will return to Marietta City Council in January, but it looks like the 2nd Ward will have a new representative.
Democrat Mike McCauley led Councilman Randy Wilson, R-2nd Ward, by 10 votes once final, unofficial results were announced from Tuesday's election.
It was not immediately apparent how many provisional ballots remained to be counted, how many were cast in 2nd Ward precincts and whether that would affect the outcome.
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Leslie Haas, president of the Republican Women’s Group, and Andy Thompson, Marietta council candidate, look over early election returns. See more photos at cu.newsandsentinel.com
"I knocked on a lot of doors and petted a lot of dogs," said McCauley of his campaign to return to the 2nd Ward seat he held in 1996 and 1997.
"I've lived in the ward for over 30 years so a lot of people know me."
McCauley also served three terms as an at large councilman.
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In the 1st Ward, Councilman David White, a Republican, edged out Democrat Louise Gwinn, the wife of White's predecessor Sam Gwinn, by 19 votes.
Councilman Tom Vukovic, D-4th Ward, defeated Republican challenger Glen McCabe Jr. by a count of 593-385.
The three at large incumbents - Democrat Kathy Shively, Republican Andy Thompson and Democrat Harley Noland - retained their seats over Republican Josh Schlicher and independent candidate Debra Scott. Elected to her seventh term as an at large member, Shively led all at large candidates with 2,054 votes. Thompson secured his third term with 1,983 votes, while Noland was re-elected to a second term with 1,932.
The Marietta Board of Education will have one new member.
Retired Warren Local school district teacher Karen Burton garnered 3,872 votes, just 16 less than incumbent board President Jack Moberg.
Incumbent Wendy Myers won the third seat with 3,585 votes, leaving fellow board member Ryan Elliott the odd man out with 3,382 votes.
The Warren Local Board of Education will have two new members, but they aren't unfamiliar.
Former district treasurer Sidney Brackenridge was the top vote-getter with 1,585, while former board member Bob Crum finished third with 1,188.
In between them was incumbent Bob Allen, who received 1,387 votes. Those three will take office in January.
Crum edged out incumbent Dan McDermott, who received 1,169 votes, three more than challenger Garry Marks, who received 1,166 votes.
It was not immediately clear how many provisional ballots remained to be counted and how that might affect the outcome.
One of two incumbents running for the Fort Frye Local Board of Education was re-elected and will be joined by a former board member and a newcomer.
Board member David White led all vote-getters with 1,050, followed by former board member Lisa Perry. Johnna Zalmanek took the third seat with 926 votes. Letha K. Haas finished fourth with 894. Incumbent David Vandenberg had the lowest total, with 715.
In other races:
Issue 1, which would authorize the sale of bonds to finance compensation for veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts, was backed by 70 percent of voters. Issue 2, which would create a board to govern the care of livestock, was voted for by 72 percent of voters. Issue 3, which would allow casinos to be built in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo, was opposed by 58.8 percent of Washington County voters.
