Lynnwood Mayor Mike McKinnon is in danger of losing his job.
If early primary election night returns hold up, McKinnon just barely will have a chance to retain his job in the Nov. 8 general election.
Based on those returns, the general election would be a rematch of four years ago, when McKinnon defeated Councilman Don Gough.
Gough had a slight lead over McKinnon in the first returns, with Councilman Jim Smith not far behind and closing fast. Newcomer Bill Vance was a distant fourth.
Neither Gough nor McKinnon returned calls Tuesday night. McKinnon said in an e-mail to newspapers Tuesday that he would not be available for comment.
“No party. No campaigning. Just playing with the (grand)kids. And I don’t much feel like talking tonight,” he wrote.
Smith is making his third try for the mayor’s job.
“Well, it’s a disappointing start, but we’ll see,” Smith said after the first returns came in.
Vance also said he was disappointed in his early showing, “but there’s nothing I can do about it now. We’ll see where it goes.”
McKinnon, 57, was a City Council member for 12 years before being elected mayor in 2001. He has his own accounting business. His term as mayor has been an up-and-down one.
He has seen construction of the Lynnwood Convention Center and approval of the City Center redevelopment plan. But McKinnon frequently disagreed with some council members and was targeted in ethics complaints filed by three residents. McKinnon contended the complaints were politically motivated.
Gough, 54, an independent general-practice attorney, was elected to the council in 1995. In 2001, he narrowly survived the primary ahead of Smith before losing to McKinnon in November.
Gough has twice served as council president and on the boards for Medic 7 and 911.
Smith, 54, a flight instructor, has served 18 years on the council. He is chairman of the board for the Snohomish Health District and president of the Washington Pilots Association. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1997 and 2001.
Vance, 50, is a regional cable maintenance supervisor for Qwest. He has volunteered as chairman of the Taste of Edmonds and for Seafair.
In the only Lynnwood City Council race contested in the primary, newcomer Mark Smith held a large lead over one-term incumbent Martin Nelson, with Craig Spicer third.
“I worked really hard to get out a positive message and a positive vision for the citizens of Lynnwood,” Smith said.
Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com
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