Mountlake Terrace voters pick incumbents

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Voters held onto their incumbents on the Mountlake Terrace City Council, according to early election results Tuesday night.

Council members Jerry Smith, Angela Amundson and Doug Wittinger pulled ahead despite noticeable opposition.

Michelle Angrick jumped ahead of Eric Teegarden in the race for Council woman Jamie Gravelle’s seat. Gravelle did not run for re-election.

The Snohomish County Auditor’s Office will continue counting ballots next week and certify the races by Nov. 29. The results will be updated on the county’s Web site at 5 p.m. daily.

When the new City Council is seated in January, they will elect a member to serve as mayor. Smith, a retired Seattle Police officer who served for about 20 years, is serving his second year as mayor.

Smith said he is expecting a big voter turnout once the ballots are counted. He saw a lot of people at the polls or carrying absent ballots.

“We had a big turnout from this vote,” Smith said. “I think what brought everyone out is they are voting on the (state) initiatives. We all love to see a big turnout.”

Smith, with 58 percent, enjoyed a comfortable lead on Tuesday night compared to his challenger Lorayne E. Ham, with 42 percent.

“I think the voters knew me better than they knew her,” Smith said. “She was all very polite about me and everything else. I think it was a name-recognition thing.”

Ham could not be reached for comment before The Enterprise deadline.

Wittinger, Wright close

The closest race appeared to be between Wittinger and challenger Kyoko Wright with 54 percent to 46 percent respectively. Wittinger is a senior engineering specialist for the Northshore Utility District and Wright is a Realtor and member of the city’s Planning Commission.

Wittinger, who is seeking a second term, told voters that he wanted to continue being a voice for the people and make it a priority to balance the city budget. He could not be reached for comment before The Enterprise deadline.

Wright is still hopeful that she will pull ahead as final ballots are counted. If she loses, she said she is ready to run again. “I am not going to quit,” Wright said.

Amundson, Angrick lead

Amundson, with 57 percent of the vote, stepped ahead of newcomer Michael Jones, with 43 percent.

Amundson, a co-owner of Cafe on the Terrace, told voters she wanted to serve a second term so she could continue to be an advocate for the people. She was extremely grateful to all of her supporters.

“I am thrilled, absolutely thrilled,” Amundson said. “Despite every hurdle we encoutered along the way, we stayed positive and we continued with our number one goal. Our number one goal was to run a clean campaign from beginning to end.”

Jones, a vice president and manager at JPMorgan’s Seattle office, is waiting for the final count.

“I am confident,” Jones said. “We will see what happens.”

Angrick, an Edward Jones Investments office administrator, nudged ahead of Teegarden, owner of Eric’s Yard Care and Landscaping, with 52 percent and 41 percent respectfully. A declared write-in candidate, Maria Quintero, was likely a factor in accounting for most of the other votes in that race.

“I feel that it is a little early. There are a lot of votes to be counted,” Angrick said. “I really thank everyone who has supported me.”

Teegarden could not be reached for comment before The Enterprise deadline.

Angrick said she has gained a lot regardless of whether she wins. She met a lot of people and got more involved with her community.

“It has been great,” Angrick said. “I already feel like I have accomplished a lot.”

Angrick, Jones, Smith and Wright celebrated the end of the campaign season Tuesday night by renting the city-owned Ballinger Lake Golf Course clubhouse, which reopened in September. At least 75 people joined in the festivities and enjoyed drinks, cold cuts, fruit and desserts.

Tyrone and Carol Hardy, who manage the golf course, hope more people will rent the clubhouse so the golf course can be successful during the slow winter season.

“We are hoping to have a few more parties booked soon,” he said.