On April 18, voters were asked if they wanted member Stormie Mitchell removed from the council. That day’s results were 81 votes to remove Mitchell from the council while 60 voted for her to stay. But there were 33 ballots not counted, as they were early votes (28), and questioned ballots (5.)
Last Friday afternoon the Delta Junction Canvass Board met to finish the counting in a public process, that was attended by Fairbanks Division of Elections Supervisor Amanda McColley.
The final results are 105 votes to remove Mitchell from office and 66 for her to remain.
This election was historic for Delta Junction, with only 934 registered voters, in that the turnout was huge. 174 folks voted. That’s more than twice as many who voted (69) in the municipal election last October, which put Mitchell and two others into council seats. All three ran unopposed.
Mitchell was sworn into office on October 8 to fill a vacant seat for a one-year term. Her tenure on the council has been marked by her many challenges to city council procedures, questioning the competence of the city staff and trying to reduce city spending. However, some saw her as obstructionist, and a citizen petition [with 41 signers] to recall Mitchell was submitted and certified in February, so the City had to hold an election.
Now the results of the recall election will be certified at a special council meeting called for Tuesday, May 13.
After that, the council will be missing a member. The Council will have 30 days to fill the vacancy, by appointing a new City official to serve until the next regular election October 7.
