Fairbrother a landslide victor in Bellevue

It was a landslide victory for equine veterinarian and current Bellevue City Councilman Stephen Fairbrother in Bellevue’s mayoral election Monday.

More than 75 percent of the voters who turned out at Bellevue City Hall picked Fairbrother to head their city over fellow candidates Ed Lynt and Don Kremer, who had 15 and 9 percent of the vote respectively.

A total of 163 citizens out of 730 registered voters tossed in their votes for the election, a 22 percent turnout.

Bellevue planning and zoning administrator Diane Shay, who worked the polls, said she was impressed with how many young, new faces came to the polls.

"This is the first time I’ve seen such a young voter-turnout," Shay said. "I was also impressed with the efforts made by the elderly population to get their votes in."

Minutes after the votes were tallied, Fairbrother sounded surprised.

"It was a little tense," Fairbrother said. "A friend just called from city hall and told me she thought I was going to lose. She sounded panicked. But I guess I won."

There were no surprises in the election results for three council seats.

Larry Plott, George Moore and Monte Brothwell collected a little more than 120 votes each. Their race for council was uncontested after three candidates dropped out.

The new guard is in a way an old guard. Brothwell, formerly the mayor, and Fairbrother, formerly a councilman, have been working together in city hall for the past three years.

Law enforcement veteran Larry Plott also is no stranger to the workings of Bellevue government. He has lived in the city for more than two decades and is a regular face at council meetings.

George Moore has served the city as building inspector and as city administrator.

An appointee will be joining the newly elected officials.

Jim Thomas, chief deputy prosecuting attorney for Blaine County, was appointed to a council seat two weeks ago after Councilwoman Kathy Clark resigned.

As the realization of victory settled in, Fairbrother sounded a little more confident and buoyant.

"I think it’s going to be a good council, and we already have a great staff," Fairbrother said. "There’s going to be a real continuity of information. We’re all going to be up to speed."

"It’s going to be funny looking at Monte from the other side," Fairbrother added.