Amundson, Verlato officially on Council

Peter Amundson

Former Mayor Peter Amundson and first-time candidate April Verlato have officially been declared winners in the closely and hotly-contested race for two open City Council seats.

A final count of an additional 1,107 ballots this morning that came in after the first count on April 12, resulted in the same outcome. Former Mayor Bob Harbicht, who had been only 438 votes behind April Verlato April 12, made up only a few votes with 3,658 to Verlato’s 4,077,  a difference of 419 votes. Amundson still led with 4,122, a difference of only 45 votes over Verlato and 455 votes over Harbicht.

April Verlato

Three other candidates were quite a distance back, with former Mayor Dr. Sheng Chang at 2,603, and second-time candidates Burton Brink and Paul Van Fleet at 1,193 and 92, respectively.

Verlato will be the first woman on the Council in ten years since former Mayor Gail Marshall was termed out in 2006. The Council now includes a woman and Chinese-American Sho Tay. Verlato is also one of the youngest Council members in years.

The defeat of Measure A — to eliminate the Utility Users Tax that would have cut $7 million or 12.5% of the city’s budget — was already a mathematical lock to remain the same, but officially the final count is 5,617 opposed and 3,109 in favor.

Also, Gene Glasco was re-elected to another term as City Clerk with far more votes than any Council candidate — 5,303 — he ran unopposed.

The approximately 9,000 returned ballots represented about 28% of all registered voters, which is a high for recent years but in line with other elections during which there is a lot of public interest in candidates and issues, according to City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto.

The ceremonial swearing-in ceremony will take place at a special City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 26.

— By Scott Hettrick