Proposition 403 behind by 58 to 42-percent margin
By Curtis Riggs | March 11, 2009
Coady holds 113-vote lead
CAREFREE – Voters appeared to have rejected a major change (Prop. 403) in town government while embracing other significant changes, according to Tuesday’s preliminary election results.
Voters appear to have shot down Prop. 403, a ballot measure which would have increased council terms from two years to four and staggered the terms beginning in 2011, by a 58 to 42 percent margin. Preliminary results for Prop. 403 were 454 no votes to 331 yes votes.
With 197 votes yet to be counted, Councilman Bob Coady (543 votes) holds a 113-vote lead over his nearest challenger, first-time candidate Doug Stavoe, who registered 430 votes.
Official election results are expected by 5 p.m. Friday. Any candidate not receiving half (plus one) of the vote cast Tuesday will be forced to participate in a May 19 run-off election.
Council incumbents Greg Gardner (412) and Glenn Miller (411) finished just behind Coady and Stavoe.
Miller said he doesn’t pay much attention to the early numbers on Wednesday because “the numbers change so much.”
First-time candidates Susan Vanik (410) and Peter Koteas (403) finished next.
Probably most surprising about Tuesday’s results, besides Coady’s strong finish, was four incumbents; Mayor Wayne Fulcher (391), Bob Gemmill (389), Vice Mayor Lloyd Meyer (389), and David Schwan finishing below the four first time candidates.
While admitting the Tuesday results are not official and could change some, Coady was ecstatic with his finish on Wednesday. Some of Coady’s elation is because two political-action committees (PACs) worked so hard to defeat him in this election.
He stressed, “It’s all about the citizens” when talking about what he has worked toward in his five terms in office.
“I need to thank the PACs for all the free publicity,” he said. “Seriously, the citizens have spoken – they want fiscal responsibility, transparency in government and no special interests.”