Sweet Home’s charter amendment had a strong lead in the May 20 election following the most recent count prior to press time, on Thursday afternoon, May 22.
The amendment, which would require voters to elect Sweet Home’s mayor rather than the mayor being elected by City Council members, had 80.01% of the 1,441 votes cast — which is 18.51% of the city’s registered voters.
Sweet Home’s police and library operating levies both had comfortable leads.
In the election for Sweet Home School Board seats, Mike Adams and Erin Barstad both appeared to be clear winners in the two races with more than one registered candidate.
As of noon Wednesday, the five-year Police Operating Levy had a strong “yes” vote lead, with 67.59% of the vote.
The library levy, also for five years, had an identical 67.59% “yes” lead.
Adams, the incumbent, had 61.67% of the votes in the initial tally of votes for the Zone 7 (at-large) seat. Robert Egener had 38% as of noon Wednesday.
Barstad, a newcomer to the board, had 60.66% of the votes for the Zone 8 (at-large) seat. Matthew Bechtel, also challenging for the seat, had 38.78%.
Incumbent Amanda Carter was unchallenged for the Zone 2 (Liberty) seat and newcomer Rachel Maynard was unchallenged for the Zone 5 (at large) seat.
No one filed for the Holley seat (Zone 1), but there were 280 write-in votes, so the top vote-getter will likely get that seat if they agree to serve.
Incumbents Dawn Mitchell and Rob Younger ran uncontested for their seats on the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District Board of Directors, and Jami Snyder was unchallenged for the Position 1 seat on the Sweet Home Cemetery District Board of Directors. No one ran for the Position 2 seat, so that will likely be filled by a write-in choice; there were 118 write-in votes as of Thursday.
More votes are likely in coming days as absentee or mail-in ballots arrive at the County Elections Office.