In one of the closest Primary races, two first-time candidates for Lynnwood City Council were nearly even late Tuesday, Aug. 21, well behind leading vote-getter and incumbent Jim Smith.

With 19.53 percent of ballots counted late Tuesday night, Smith had received 1,344 votes or 47.87 percent, giving him a clear lead over his two challengers.

Meanwhile, only two votes separated challengers for the position 7 seat, Maria Ambalada and The Rev. Christopher Boyer. Only one of them will face Smith in the Nov. 4 General election.

Ambalada, a Planning Commission member and neighborhood activist, and Boyer, pastor of Good Shepherd Baptist Church, are first-time council candidates.

Boyer received 700 votes, 25.45 percent, to Ambalada’s 698 votes — 25.38 percent.

Smith said he was “extremely empathetic” toward his challengers because he faced a very close election 20 years ago.

“I don’t take any election for granted,” he said. “I’m very appreciative of the support I’ve received so far.”

Informed about the early results, Boyer said he was not surprised.

“Maria certainly has a built-in constituency,” he said. “She’s worked very hard in the community and done a lot of terrific things. I’m basically an unknown and I haven’t had a lot of time to get my name out there. I’m delighted to hear I’m running that strong.”

Mail-in ballots continued to come in as votes were tabulated early election week.

Snohomish County Auditor Caroline Diepenbrock originally predicted a voter turnout of 38 percent and was a bit surprised by the low number of mail-in ballots returned by election day.

“We’re hearing that our community collection centers are having a high volume, which means there are a lot of people turning in their ballots today,” she said.

For the most part, election day results are a good indication of the way races will play out.

“Unless you have a really, really close race, I don’t think the ballots that are being tabulated after today will change where we are with our 8 p.m. results,” Diepenbrock said.

Ambalada said “I have butterflies in my stomach” as she awaited election results.

“I have a very strong feeling I will beat Boyer,” she said. “If I don’t, I’m not really gonna be heart broken or anything.”