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Castner keeps lead in mayor race

Published 4:20 pm Friday, October 5, 2018

By Michael Armstrong

Homer City Clerk Melissa Jacobsen, right, watches as Election Canvass Board members Maryann Lyda, left, and Alice Krivitsky, center, feed ballots through an AccuVote machine during the Oct. 5, 2018, meeting of the canvass board in Homer, Alaska. The board counted the absentee and other ballots uncounted on Tuesday’s election. The overall result did not change, with Ken Caster winning the election of Homer Mayor and Donna Aderhold and Heath Smith winning re-election to the Homer City Council. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
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Homer City Clerk Melissa Jacobsen, right, watches as Election Canvass Board members Maryann Lyda, left, and Alice Krivitsky, center, feed ballots through an AccuVote machine during the Oct. 5, 2018, meeting of the canvass board in Homer, Alaska. The board counted the absentee and other ballots uncounted on Tuesday’s election. The overall result did not change, with Ken Caster winning the election of Homer Mayor and Donna Aderhold and Heath Smith winning re-election to the Homer City Council. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Homer City Clerk Melissa Jacobsen, right, watches as Election Canvass Board members Maryann Lyda, left, and Alice Krivitsky, center, feed ballots through an AccuVote machine during the Oct. 5, 2018, meeting of the canvass board in Homer, Alaska. The board counted the absentee and other ballots uncounted on Tuesday’s election. The overall result did not change, with Ken Caster winning the election of Homer Mayor and Donna Aderhold and Heath Smith winning re-election to the Homer City Council. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
The results of the Homer Election Canvass Board after all outstanding ballots were counted on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018, in Homer, Alaska. The Homer City Council will certify the election at its regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 8, in the Cowles Council Chambers, Homer City Hall. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

After counting of absentee, questioned and special needs votes, the Homer Election Canvass Board found no change in Tuesday’s unofficial results. In the final tally, Ken Castner held on to his lead in the election for mayor, with a total of 829 votes or 53 percent to David Lewis with 731 votes or 46 percent.

The vote also didn’t change for Homer City Council. In the three-way race for two, 3-year council seats, Donna Aderhold finished first with 956 votes followed by Heath Smith with 788 votes. Deb Lowney received 646 votes. Lowney suspended her campaign last month and announced that she did not seek election to city council because of family reasons. With Aderhold and Smith re-elected, the current council remains the same.

The last meeting for Mayor Bryan Zak is Monday, Oct. 8, at 6 p.m. in the Cowles Council Chambers, Homer City Hall. Zak did not run for re-election for medical reasons. Zak had surgery in August for a brain tumor and has been receiving radiation treatment in Anchorage. Zak request excusal from Monday’s meeting.

After conducting most of its business, the council will vote on certifying the results of the election. Castner, Aderhold and Smith will take the oath of office after certification of the election.

Here are the Election Canvass Board results:

Mayor, 2-year term

Ken Castner: 829 votes, 53 percent

David Lewis: 731 votes, 46 percent

Write in: 20 votes, 1 percent

Homer Council, two, 3-year seats

Donna Robertson Aderhold: 956 votes, 76 percent*

Heath Smith: 788 votes, 63 percent*

Deb Lowney: 646 votes, 51 percent*

Write in: 129 votes, 10 percent*

Total number of voters: 1,617 or a 33 percent turnout

The city calculates council member vote percentages as a percentage of half the votes cast in the council races. Voters can select any two candidates.

Reach Michael Armstrong at marmstrong@homernews.com.

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