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 Wednesday, Nov. 4, incumbent Ian Oglesby tallied 57 percent of the vote in Seaside’s mayoral race, compared to 43 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, incumbent Rita Burks leads the way with 25 percent of the vote, followed by Lacey Raak with 24 percent.
Both are well ahead of Annalisa Mitchell (at 16 percent), Ken Fittro and Dennis Volk (both with 14 percent) and Karla Lobo, who managed 8 percent of the vote.
“It was the consistency of knocking,” says Raak, who will be a first-time council member. “I felt like I was talking to my neighbors.”
Speaking for all of the elected officials, Raak says the next step is to “keep working really hard.”