In a pair of races decided by razor-thin margins, Powell voters appear to have elected two new members to the city council while re-electing two others by more comfortable margins.

Ward 3

According to unofficial results, challenger Justin Waterworth squeaked past longtime Ward 3 Councilman Tim Sapp. After besting Sapp by a single vote in a four-way primary election, Waterworth unofficially won by just two votes in Tuesday’s head-to-head matchup: 248 (49.9%) to 246 (49.5%).

“Apparently, I have a talent for making elections unnecessarily interesting,” Waterworth quipped in a Tuesday night Facebook post.

The thin margin triggered an automatic recount, which the Park County Clerk’s Office will conduct today (Thursday). Waterworth told the Tribune he fully supports that process.

“Every vote deserves to be counted accurately, and I’ll respect whatever result is ultimately certified,” the middle school teacher said, adding that, “For now, I’m cautiously optimistic, grateful, and trying to focus on my day job to pass the time.”

Waterworth also said that, regardless of how the final results shake out, he appreciates Sapp’s many years of service and commitment to the Powell community.

Sapp said Wednesday that he hadn’t expected the results to be so close, “but that’s alright. The people have spoken.”

The incumbent said it didn’t look like the unofficial results contained a mistake, but said he’d wait to see how the recount shakes out.

In the two-way race, the unofficial results indicate that 75 voters didn’t cast votes for either candidate; of those, three voters apparently wrote in their own choice, five others filled in too many ovals and 67 left the race blank.

Ward 1

The results were almost as close in Ward 1, where Holly Cole edged out Steve Nickles by six votes. Cole received 250 votes (50%) while Nickles 244 (48.8%). 

“I think they turned out how I thought they would: close,” Cole said of the results.

The unofficial tally says that six residents cast write-in votes, while 84 others left the race blank.

In the primary election, Nickles had received 153 votes (38.8%) to Cole’s 88 votes (22.3%) while the remainder was split among three other candidates.

Cole said she’s “very happy” to be joining the council.

“That was what I was shooting for, so I’m thankful for everyone who voted,” she said.

Cole said she’s been studying the council’s minutes and budget and feels ready for the new role.

In a Wednesday interview, Nickles congratulated Cole and said he knows she’ll do a good job.

“It’s not the results I hoped for, but you know, it’s OK,” he said.

Both candidates indicated that they hold similar views.

Ward 2

In Ward 2, Councilman Zane Logan was unopposed in his bid for another four-year term. He received 522 votes (99.1%) versus five write-ins.

The other Ward 2 representative, Councilwoman Kristy Fields, turned back a challenge from John Sinskie. She received 424 votes (60.8%), while Sinskie received 269 votes (38.6%). Sinskie gained about 2 percentage points from the primary. 

Fields was appointed to the position by the council last year, to fill the seat that had been held by the late Councilman Floyd Young. She said she’s honored to have now been voted into the role to serve out Young’s term.

Fields also said she’s thankful for the support and encouragement she received through the campaign — and thanked Sinskie for running a respectable campaign.

“I truly love this community and look forward to serving on council the next two years,” Fields said Wednesday.

Sinskie offered his congratulations to Fields on election night.

“She will do a good job,” Sinskie said in a Wednesday text.

Sinskie added that he intends to run for mayor in 2028 and plans to start campaigning next year.

New mayor, councilmember

Current Mayor John Wetzel was elected to the Wyoming Legislature on Tuesday as the next representative in House District 25. Wetzel is currently in the middle of his mayoral term, which means his departure for Cheyenne will trigger a series of changes in the city council.

Wetzel said Wednesday that his plan is to serve as mayor through the start of 2027. At that point, the new council would need to choose one of its members to hold the city’s top role through the 2028 election. The body would then need to temporarily replace that council member with a resident from the ward.

Details will be determined as the date draws closer.

Elsewhere in Park County

Over in Cody, all three city council races were uncontested. Voters reelected council members Kelly Tamblyn and Don Shreve while adding Joseph Burrell to the body.

Down in Meeteetse, town residents chose Councilman Dusty Taylor as their new mayor. Taylor picked up 101 votes (68.2%) to replace longtime Mayor Bill Yetter, who received 46 votes (31.1%). Residents also reelected Meeteetse Councilman Eric Scott (103 votes) and elected Jason Summers (100 votes).