Ian Oglesby leads in Seaside's mayoral race; Rita Burks looks certain to retain council seat.

As the first election reports were posted around 8:30pm on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Alex Miller could only smile and shrug.

“Well, I tried,” he says.

As of 8:15pm, incumbent Ian Oglesby tallied 58.5 percent of the vote in Seaside’s mayoral race, compared to 41.5 percent for the challenger—despite Miller raising five times more in campaign donations and ringing some 4,000 doorbells.

“I think it’s a statement about my leadership and ability to get things done,” Oglesby says.

The mayor, who has held the seat for eight years, cites strides made by the city toward projects such as Campus Town—known now as Pacific Landing—and Main Gate on the former Fort Ord property. He expressed confidence in the outcome even before results began to come in.

“We’ve shared our vision,” he says. “We will continue to invest in our community.”

At a festive gathering on Tuesday night, as votes are still being counted, Miller’s supporters seemed optimistic. Earlier in the day, Miller thanked his team of volunteers. Oglesby wrapped up some final campaign calls before joining followers at a quieter event.

Miller, who has served on Seaside’s City Council for four years, pinned his campaign hopes on a desire for change. But, he admits, “Ian has been good.”

The City Council seat forfeited by Miller is one of two up for grabs. Of the six candidates vying for those positions, Lacey Raak accounted for 25.2 percent of the vote at the initial count, with incumbent Rita Burks at 24.4 percent. 

Both end the evening well ahead of Annalisa Mitchell (at 16 percent), Ken Fittro (13.7 percent) and Dennis Volk (13.6 percent).

Karla Lobo managed 6.9 percent of the vote.

“I ran a good race,” says Mitchell, who joined Oglesby at at election night party at Deja Blue. “That’s all I can do—give it my best.”