Wednesday, April 7, 2004

Bellevue city council gender balanced

Anderson, Wilkes and
Ehrmantraut re-elected

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By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer

It was a close race at the Bellevue general election Monday, April 5, although there was a low turnout of registered voters.

Bellevue City Council incumbents Jon Wilkes and Jon Anderson were re-elected, and former councilwoman Joanna Ehrmantraut was returned to the council after a two-year hiatus.

Ehrmantraut will be replacing Parke Mitchell, who did not run for re-election.

Of the 842 registered voters in the city, including 14 new registrations, only 174 ballots were cast. Anderson had the most votes with 111, followed by Wilkes with 102. Ehrmantraut received 97 votes, and candidates Andrew Chittenden and Monte Brothwell trailed with 81 and 77 votes, respectively.

Write-in candidate Patty Healey received one vote.

The number of ballots cast in the annual election was down from last year when Mayor John Barton was elected, but the tally was up from 2002, the last off-mayoral election when 110 ballots were cast.

"I’ve just been on the council for two years. It takes a while to get your feet wet," Anderson said. "I was surprised that I got the most votes. I was talking with Jon Wilkes this morning. We feel like we can keep Bellevue moving forward instead of backward."

Ehrmantraut was happy to be re-elected, and viewed the vote in her favor as a chance to get back in touch with what is happening in the community.

"I’ve missed being on the council," she said. "It will be a good balance, three men and three women. I don’t think that has happened before."

"I was glad to see Johanna get on there," Anderson said. "She’ll bring some good experience."

Wilkes was happy with the results, too. He said he had hoped that Chittenden would have a chance to serve on the council, but he said voters were more familiar with the other candidates.

"We still have him on P&Z, so it’s good all around," Wilkes said. "I think we are in a good position to keep the city of Bellevue moving forward."

The current council has one more meeting together before the new council first meets at city hall Thursday, May 13.

"I hope we have a better voter turnout for the primary election at the Bellevue Elementary School," Ehrmantraut said.

The primary election and a special election for a requested municipal levy increase will be held May 25 from noon to 8 p.m. at the elementary school.

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