Sandpoint Challengers In Sweep

With fewer than a third of the city’s registered voters casting ballots, the challengers upended the incumbents in the Sandpoint City Council elections Tuesday. Marsha Ogilvie, Jamie Davis and Justin Schuck all chalked up wins at the expense of John O’Hara, Michael Boge and Helen Newton. … In the contested four-year council positions, residents voted for three of the six candidates. Ogilvie led all candidates with 641 votes, followed by Davis with 564 and Schuck with 536. Among the incumbents, O’Hara tallied 532, Boge 596 and Newton 451. Another incumbent, John Reuter, was unopposed for a two-year seat. He received 737 votes/ Sandpoint Online .

Question: How much of a role did an anti-incumbent mood play in local elections?

With fewer than a third of the city’s registered voters casting ballots, the challengers upended the incumbents in the Sandpoint City Council elections Tuesday. Marsha Ogilvie, Jamie Davis and Justin Schuck all chalked up wins at the expense of John O’Hara, Michael Boge and Helen Newton.

Voters also reversed special election results last May by supporting a $17 million bond measure to finance expansion of the city’s water treatment plant. The measure won with 68 percent approval, 763 in favor and 367 opposed.

The Sandpoint City Clerk’s office reported total votes cast were 1,146, out of 3,893 registered voters, for a turnout of 29 percent.

In the contested four-year council positions, residents voted for three of the six candidates. Ogilvie led all candidates with 641 votes, followed by Davis with 564 and Schuck with 536. Among the incumbents, O’Hara tallied 532, Boge 596 and Newton 451.

Another incumbent, John Reuter, was unopposed for a two-year seat. He received 737 votes.