Positions on the Powell City Council typically don’t draw much interest, but they certainly did this year. A perhaps unprecedented number of candidates filed for four available positions, and a conservative political action committee also got involved.

A total of 1,434 voters across the city wound up winnowing the field of candidates in two wards while weighing in a third contested race.

Ward 1

After Ward 1 Councilman Steve Lensegrav announced his intent to leave the council at the end of the year, five candidates filed to replace him in May.

Steve Nickles topped the crowded field on Tuesday, with unofficial results indicating he received 153 votes (38.8%).

In a Wednesday interview, Nickels expressed gratitude for the support.

“If elected in November, I will do my best to represent everybody in my ward to the fullest of my abilities,” he said, adding that he’ll continue visiting with residents in the coming months.

Nickles is set to compete against Holly Cole — who received 88 votes (22.3%) — in November’s general election. 

“With five people on the ballot, I knew the race would be competitive,” Cole said in a Wednesday email. “I’m happy with the outcome, and the close results show I have work to do to help the people of Powell get to know who I am and why I believe I would be the best choice for city council.”

She thanked everyone who took the time to vote.

Crystal Reese, who was backed by the conservative Park County Patriots group, finished just behind Cole with 84 votes (21.3%).

In a Facebook post, Reese thanked her supporters and noted that, “Every vote counts!!!”

“When people think their votes do not matter,” she wrote in part, “understand that I will not move to the general election on November 3rd by 4 votes.”

David Bryan, who picked up 41 votes (10.4%), and Jim Core, who received 25 votes (6.4%), rounded out the field.

Ward 3

Four candidates, meanwhile, filed for a council seat representing Ward 3.

Challenger Justin Waterworth topped longtime Councilman Tim Sapp by a single vote in the primary, receiving 134 votes (33.9%) to Sapp’s 133 (33.7%). 

“Apparently when they tell you ‘every vote matters,’ they are not speaking metaphorically,” Waterworth remarked in a Tuesday night Facebook post.

Waterworth recalled that at the outset of his campaign, his wife had joked it would be funny if he won by a single vote, so she could claim her ballot put him over the top.

“Well, here we are,” Waterworth wrote in his Facebook post. “I assume I’ll be hearing about it until approximately forever.”

He also called the margin a reminder of why he decided to run — noting that local government is close to the people — and thanked those who voted for him and others.

“If I’m fortunate enough to earn this seat in November, I won’t be interested in whether you were vote #134 for Waterworth or vote #133 for somebody else,” he wrote. “I’ll be interested in what you have to say.”

Waterworth is set to face Sapp in the general election and said he’s looking forward to a positive campaign.

For his part, Sapp expressed appreciation to the voters who supported him in Tuesday’s election.

“I’ll continue to try to do the best I can for them, and would like to have their vote again in the general election,” he said.

Lupe Bickford — who’d been endorsed by the Park County Patriots — finished third with 90 votes (22.8%), followed by Venus “Freedom” Bontadelli with 34 votes (8.6%).

Ward 2

Within Ward 2, Councilwoman Kristy Fields received 380 votes (63.6%) to challenger John Sinskie’s 217 votes (36.3%). However, the primary was effectively just a test run for the general election, where the two will compete again. The winner of the November election will finish serving out the final two years of the late Councilman Floyd Young’s term.

Fields, who was appointed to the council last year, said she was happy with the results and “grateful for the support and encouragement I’ve received from the community.” 

“I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing and I look forward to the general election,” she said, wishing Sinskie the best.

Sinskie told the Tribune Wednesday that he is staying in the race.

“I have some work to do,” he said. “I will continue my message of accountability, communication, community engagement and fiscal responsibility.”

Fellow Ward 2 Councilman Zane Logan is unopposed in his bid for reelection, and received 522 votes (99.1%) against five write-ins.