By Evan Smith
ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer
Final certified election results confirmed the election of Sandy Koppenol, John Wright, Don Fiene and Bob Lee to the Lake Forest Park City Council.
Councilwoman Koppenol won 53 percent of the vote to 47 percent for incumbent Councilman Alan Kiest. Koppenol gave up her current position, then challenged Kiest.
This was one of several intra-council challenges in north King and south Snohomish counties but the only one that was successful. Incumbents easily beat intra-council challengers in Lynnwood, Mill Creek and Mountlake Terrace.
Koppenol’s margin of 325 votes was far less than the 771 ballots returned with this position blank. Many voters marked their ballots for the high-profile state and county contests and skipped the down-ballot local races.
The number of “undervotes” was even higher in the other two contested elections in Lake Forest Park.
John Wright defeated Jean Thomas by 351 votes. Undervotes totaled 996. Wright won for the position that Koppenol now holds. Wright had 54 percent of the vote to 46 percent for Thomas.
In Lake Forest Park’s closest race, Bob Lee defeated Tom French for the position now held by retiring Councilman Donovan Tracy. Lee won by 271 votes, with 1,138 undervotes. Lee had 53 percent to 47 percent for French. Councilman Don Fiene was unopposed for re-election.
