Moab • Seven votes separate Colin Topper and Kaitlin Myers for the top spot in the Moab City Council race, 935 to 928, respectively.
Incumbent Tawny Knuteson-Boyd appears she will keep her seat with 677 votes to Patrick Robbins’ 597 and the 511 votes Brad Woodford received.
A grateful Knuteson-Boyd had this to say moments after the results were posted, “Thank you to the candidates. All of us ran decent and clean campaigns … this is how small ‘d’ democracy works and I hope our country can learn a little bit from our example. I am humbled and honored Moab trusted me to continue representing them.”
Myers on election night also expressed her thanks.
“I am overwhelmed with gratitude to the voters,” she said. “I’m the youngest candidate who ran and this win speaks to my campaign team. We were authentic and they brought a lot of joy to the race.”
Myers said her campaign focused on young voters and that her message resonated with them. “I want to acknowledge the younger people who got excited about this election and I want to thank everyone who listened to our message. I will do everything I can to make Moab a better place for us today — and tomorrow.”
Grand County Clerk-Auditor Gabe Woytek said 1,602 ballots were returned. There are 2,752 registered voters in the city, which puts turnout at 58.21%.
The results are unofficial. Woytek said there were half a dozen ballots that need signatures verified and seven that are provisional. Also, mailed ballots postmarked Nov. 20 might be delivered and they will be counted. The vote will be ratified Nov. 29 at a special City Council meeting.
“We had a steady stream of ballots from the time we sent them to voters’ mailboxes,” said Woytek, but there was no expected “rush” of voters on Tuesday. Those who did vote in person, he said, were “kind and polite.”
The newly elected councilors will take office in December. Current Councilors Kalen Jones and Rani Derasary opted not to seek a third term.