Mike Shepherd, addressing supporters mintues before the early returns came in.
You could feel the oxygen get sucked out of the room when Mike Shepherd and about 30 supporters got the news just after 8:15 p.m. at Mad Moose Pizza.
“It’ll be alright,” he told the crowd as they noshed on pizza and sipped Moose Drool.
Shepherd, a city councilman who led the yard sign poll months before the other four candidates for mayor of Bremerton even entered the race, pulled in 23.98 percent of the votes in early returns tonight, enough to rank him third behind former Kitsap County commisioner Patty Lent, with 27.74 percent, and city councilman Will Maupin, with 28.57 pecent of the votes. Non-profit executive Daryl Daugs brought in 8 percent of the early votes, while local business owner Carlos Jara brought nearly 11 percent.
Though results in the close race will continue to be released later this week, “To me, it’s a victory,” Lent said in call from Brother Don’s, where she celebrated with friends and supporters. “From what the statistics are right now, I’m very confident.”
Lent says she plans to start doorbelling again on Wednesday. “If Will’s having a tough time making decisions on the budget, I want to see areas I can help improve that,” she said in reference to comments Maupin made at a budget meeting last month. “That’s a very important factor and we both need to be on top of our game.”
Maupin — who celebrated at home with his family and about 30 supporters — said he wasn’t surprised by tonight’s results and doesn’t expect them to change. “My real gut feeling ahead of time was that it was going to come out just the way it did,” he said in a call earlier tonight. Maupin said he plans to take a little bit of time off before getting his committe together and mapping out a strategy.
Shepherd, meanwhile, is not ready to give up hope.
“It’s amazing that it’s this close,” he said at Mad Moose. “100 votes might (make) the winner.”
Jara and Daugs have not yet returned calls for comment.
Note: During the primary campaign, Bremelog.com has focused its coverage on the mayor’s race. Look for coverage on the other races affecting Bremeton voters between now and November’s general election.
August 18, 2009 at 9:21 pm
As an active voter and person who watched his wife Get Out the Vote personally, and personally talk to literally every downtown business..the numbers are not adding up.
18% turnout is weapons grade ridiculous. Do voters even understand what just happened? Daryl Daugs was not only the most qualified, this was a personal fight, and it was inspiring to meet and listen to their staff.
Epic Fail Btown. See you in the twitterverse
August 19, 2009 at 3:38 pm
If the people of Bremerton want to truly get this town moving and not have more taxes rammed down their throats, they better get off the Maupin and Lent wagons. Look at the marina for an example of Ms. Lent’s feelings toward the taxpayers. Mr. Maupin says he si confident he has this all wrapped up. I’d like to see an upset. A little to smug for me.
August 20, 2009 at 7:27 am
18% for a ‘who cares’ election is pretty good. Turnout in WA state, for the 2008 presidential election, was considered strong at something like 30%, and that was the election everyone actually pays attention to. Go ask ten random people on the streets of bremerton and easily eight of them won’t even know about the election.
September 16, 2011 at 1:06 pm
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October 3, 2011 at 11:29 am
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