6 council candidates to move forward
Incumbents Nicholls, Coil re-elected
Mayor Doug Nicholls and Presiding Municipal Judge James Coil have been re-elected to their seats, according to the preliminary unofficial results for the Yuma city election held Tuesday.
As for the race for three open council seats, none of the eight candidates received enough votes to be considered elected in this primary election. Only a few hundred votes separated the top finishers. A candidate had to receive at least 50 percent plus one vote among all the votes cast to win the seat and would not have had to participate in the general election.
Two candidates per open council seat will now move to the general election in November. With eight candidates, two will be eliminated after the final count.
In total, 6,000 ballots were cast in the primary election. With 685 ballots yet to be counted, the top six finishers will not be known until Thursday, when the city tallies the remaining votes, said Dave Nash, the city’s public affairs coordinator. The uncounted votes include late early ballots and conditional provisional ballots.
The results released Tuesday night include early ballots and the bal-
lots cast at the three voting centers.
Nicholls, who ran unopposed for his mayoral seat, garnered 5,061 votes, or 84 percent of the total number of ballots cast. Coil, who also ran unopposed for the municipal judge seat, received 5,029 votes, or 84 percent.
Seven council candidates were on the ballot, and one write-in candidate registered for the election. Retired Yuma Police Department Officer Gregory Counts received 2,171 votes, or 36 percent. Deputy Mayor Gary Knight, the only incumbent running in this race, got 2,748 votes, or 46 percent.
Former councilor Leslie McClendon received 2,394 votes, or 40 percent. Writein candidate Valerie McIntire, an elder caregiver, received no votes. Kristina Rojas-McNair, a manager at Yuma Regional Medical Center, got 1,812 votes, or 30 percent. Real estate agent Shelley Ostrowski, garnered 1,528 votes, or 25 percent.
Ken Rosevear, retired executive director of the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce, received 2,414 votes, or 40 percent. Karen Watts, a nurse practitioner, got 2,377 votes, or 40 percent.
Votes will become final and official once canvassed by the City Council.
Council seats are at-large and not responsible for individual geographical areas. Yuma elections are nonpartisan.
“Tonight we had a good turnout, a very close race for the council, and we look forward to a good general election and getting into the issues and trying to find ways to differentiate between candidates,” Nicholls told the Yuma Sun at an Election Day gathering at City Hall.
“It’s good turnout, I think everyone ran a good race in the primary and we’ll be looking forward to the November race,” he added.
As for his reelection, Nicholls said, “Not running against anybody else, I was able to make sure I was done in the primary. I’m very flattered and humbled by the voter support over the last four years as well as moving into the next four years. So I really am appreciative of that and look forward to continuing to serve Yuma.”
Knight also shared his reaction during the gathering at City Hall. “I am elated and disappointed at the same time,” he said. “I was hoping to get the 50 percent plus one in the primary so I could be done, but I’m very very grateful to get 46 percent. I feel humble that the people have decided that I’m doing a good job. So to finish at 46 percent, I’m happy with that, especially since that’s at the top.”
McClendon was also at the City Hall gathering. “I’m really glad that everyone came out and voted,” she said. “We’re ready for the general election. I want to thank everyone who came and supported me. It’s time for us to go out and really hit the streets running and get going on a great election for the general coming up in November. So just remember people, get out and vote. Thank you.”
Watts shared a comment via email: “This is a close election, and I am proud to call myself a member of the Yuma community. These votes are an honor and this campaign will continue on to November for the citizens of Yuma.”
Ostrowski also emailed a comment. “All I want to say is I do appreciate everyone who came out to vote and have their voice heard in this election. Wishing the best to all the candidates,” she wrote.