It was a quiet campaign for Mill Creek City Council this year. There was no negative campaigning. There was no mudslinging. There wasn’t big money spent by any candidate, as all vowed to spend less than $3,500 on their respective campaigns. And aside from some confusion over the whereabouts of campaign finance documents of challenger Jeff Smart, there was no controversy.
And election night, Nov. 4, in Mill Creek was a quiet one, with none of the huge, noisy campaign parties that mark races for higher office. Incumbent John “Jack” Start and his wife went to dinner before coming home and checking out the results. Challenger John Ware and some friends waved campaign signs as the polling wound down on a frigid night, and Smart stayed at home with his wife and children. Incumbent Dale Hensley had the closest thing to an election night party, having a small gathering at his house with a few friends that ended by 9:30 p.m.
So perhaps it was fitting then, that the election itself was devoid of drama.
Both incumbents, Start and Hensley, apparently easily won re-election to the City Council. Start was leading Smart with 65.26 percent of the vote in early returns Wednesday morning, leading by 517 votes.
Hensley, meanwhile, appeared to be making history by becoming the first Mill Creek City Council member to win a third term. Hensley led Ware with 54.78 percent of the vote – leading by 162 votes – in early returns.
Even though the two challenged incumbents won their respective races, there will still be a new face on the City Council. Mark Bond, 36, a former Mill Creek police officer and current Snohomish County Sheriff’s deputy, was unopposed in his bid for position 7, which is being vacated by longtime incumbent and former mayor Dan Hodge. This will be Bond’s first elected office.
Start said he was surprised he was winning so easily, but not surprised he was winning.
“When I was out doorbelling I didn’t find too many people who would vote against me,” Start said. “I felt I had a pretty good chance, but you never know until the votes are counted.”
Start said he believed the results showed that residents are pleased with the direction the city is going and with the programs and services it offers.
Hensley agreed, and said he was looking forward to a third term on the Council.
“I’m looking forward to working on the city’s finances and the Town Center,” he said.
Smart, meanwhile, said he would consider running for City Council again, adding that the campaign was a “huge learning experience.”
Ware also said he, too, would consider running for Council again.
“A definite highlight was getting out there in the community and meeting people,” Ware said, describing most people he met as gracious. “I enjoyed that the most.
“I ran my campaign as hard as I could,” Ware said. “I think (my campaign) did the best we could. Running against Dale made me a better candidate.”
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