The primary election on Aug. 28 resulted in all three open seats being filled on Cottonwood City Council, without the need to continue to a runoff election.
Incumbent Kyla Allen and challengers Doug Hulse and Michael Mathews were the top three vote-getters among the five who ran, beating out Jackie Nairn and Bill Tinnin.
Allen, serving as Cottonwood vice mayor, was the only incumbent running for re-election. Allen was appointed to her seat after Tim Elinski, who previously held it, was elected mayor in 2016. Though she was an incumbent in this race, it was the first election that Allen stood for. As of press time, Allen received 1,249 votes, or 23 percent of the 5,431 total votes cast.
“I’m glad the election’s over. It went well,” Allen said. “But I’m ready to get back to work.”
Hulse, who before running for City Council served as Parks and Recreation Commission chairman, got the second-most votes at 1,219, or 22.45 percent. Although Hulse has been involved with Cottonwood’s government for years, this is his first time running for elected office.
“It’s a thrilling experience,” Hulse said. “I didn’t really know what was going to happen, but I’m pleased with the outcome, and really pleased with the support I’ve gotten from the citizens. I look forward to doing a good job serving.”
Both Allen and Hulse spoke of a generally friendly, easygoing campaign, but that was not the attitude of Mathews, the local real estate businessman who got third place in the vote totals. Mathews ran in opposition to numerous City Council decisions, including the ongoing discussion on a 0.5 percent sales tax increase, which Allen has voted for as a councilwoman.
Mathews received 1,067 votes, or 19.65 percent of the total.
“I am very happy to have won. I am very disappointed Jackie Nairn will not be joining us,” Mathews wrote in an email. “Now I know why most people will not do this. Campaigns are brutal, even in a small town. It’s hard to see and hear of people telling outright lies to the public, even standing at the rec center and library pulling people aside and lying to them just to smear who they consider their opposition. At times you feel helpless to counter it.
“I am proud of the fact that Jackie and I did not and would not engage in such distasteful tactics.
“I look forward to joining those on council who sincerely want to reform the way our tax dollars are spent. The majority will now be weighted towards that end,” Mathews continued. “To the residents of Cottonwood, my door is always open and I encourage those phone calls and emails. Their participation is essential for good government and I am humbled by their confidence in seating me on the City Council.”
Mathews and Hulse will soon have a chance to join Allen and the rest of the council in late November, a few weeks after the general election. Since all three of the top vote-getters passed the threshold for avoiding a runoff — the total number of votes divided by the number of open seats [three], divided in half, and rounded up to the nearest whole number, or in this case 828 votes — none will have to compete in the general election.
Elinski has expressed a desire to bring new council members into the deliberative process of the council even before they are seated, especially with regard to the search for a new Cottonwood city manager.
In addition to Allen’s incumbent seats, the open seats in the election belonged to councilwomen Linda Norman and Karen Pfeifer, who are both retiring from the council.
Fourth-place candidate Jackie Nairn received 1,021 votes, 18.8 percent of the total, and fifth-place candidate Bill Tinnin received 855 votes, or 15.74 percent.
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551, or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
