A tie between two City Council candidates, who barely edged out incumbent Steve L. Brooks, will leave parts of Tuesday's election in limbo until votes can be counted again.
Results were much clearer for the two-year seat up for grabs: Vea Jean Hamilton won the post by claiming 985 votes to challenger Ray C. Berrett's 541.In the final but unofficial count Tuesday evening, Keith L. Coleman and Angelika Maynard got 739 votes each, finishing 13 votes ahead of Brooks. They were among a field of six candidates vying for three four-year council posts. The two candidates tied for third place behind winners Russell L. Peterson Jr., who got 792 votes; and Thaddeus C. Speed, who took in the most votes for the race with 860.
"They're going to count tallies tomorrow night. Then if they come out right, they'll do a recount. If that comes out (a tie) I guess it's a toss of the coin," said Coleman. "It was going to be a relief one way or another."
Coleman said the eventual outcome should produce no hard feelings because he and Maynard, who is the other half of the tie, are good friends.
Peterson, who finished second in the race for the three seats, was a member of the council from 1981 to 1984 and will claim his seat again in January. "It's been a good experience, " he said Tuesday night. "I'm in a good position to serve the people."
Peterson was also surprised by the tie - especially since it is the second tie he can remember. It happened in the '70s, he said. "The chances of that happening again are phenomenal."
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Tough on incumbents
Riverton voters are hard on incumbents. But the city also has candidates who are willing to keep trying.
Councilman Steve L. Brooks was the only incumbent involved in a re-election bid this year. He was edged out in a race among six candidates for three four-year seats.
Russell L. Peterson Jr. won one of those seats six years after losing a re-election bid in 1983. Blaine Page finished last among the six candidates. Healso sought election after an unsuccessful bid for a council seat in the 1970s.