BELLA VISTA — Candidates who dropped out of their races before election day are still in the running for a seat on the City Council.
Voting numbers were still unofficial Wednesday, a day after the general election, as paper ballots were still being counted.
Ward 2, Position 2 and both positions in Ward 3 didn’t have a majority winner. A candidate in each of the three races withdrew from the race before the election but not soon enough to have their name removed from the ballot.
In Ward 2, Position 2, incumbent Richard Rooney had 4,195 votes to Terry Tomlin’s 3,101 votes and Herb Thomas’ 2,350 votes. Tomlin withdrew from the race before the election.
In Ward 3, Position 1, Linda Leffler had 4,086 votes to Allen King’s 3,425 votes and incumbent Earl Berdine’s 2,185 votes. Leffler dropped out of the race prior to the election.
In Ward 3, Position 2, Larry Wilson had 3,518 votes to Karen Young’s 3,464 votes and Suzanne Jessup’s 2,542 votes. Young withdrew from the race before the election.
According to Arkansas Code 7-5-106(d), those who don’t wish to participate in a runoff election are required to submit a notarized letter of withdraw to the County Clerk’s office by the time the election is certified Nov. 16.
In Ward 1, Position 1, Becky Morgan had 5,622 votes to incumbent Doug Farner’s 4,744 votes.
In Ward 2, Position 1, incumbent Jim Wozniak had 6,309 votes to Harry Newby’s 4,157 votes. This will be Wozniak’s second council term.
“I’m glad its over,” Wozniak said. “Thanks to everybody who voted for me. I will try my hardest to gain the trust and respect of those on whom it was lost.”
Numbers also show an ordinance rezoning a parcel of land at Bella Vista Way and Oldham Drive will be recalled, leaving the lot zoned residential. Early numbers indicated 6,285 votes against and 5,216 votes for.
The issue was put to a vote after a referendum was filed against a rezoning ordinance passed by the City Council in June to zone the lot C-4 from R-1.
Tony LiCausi, spokesman for Citizens for Responsible Development, thanked voters and the volunteers who assisted with the group’s effort to put the issue to a vote.
“Maybe the Planning Commission and City Council might want to go into a little more detail with their vision and maybe confer with some of the constituents in the community so this doesn’t come up again in the future,” he said.