Elections

FINAL COUNT: It’s John Engen for Missoula Mayor

By Kirk Siegler, 11-08-05

John Engen pulled ahead of the Missoula mayoral race tonight and took the city's top spot in final tallies with 60 percent of the vote and 7,455 ballots cast in his favor.

Lou Ann Crowley made a good showing with 4,773 votes cast her way and 38 percent of the vote.

At the Florence Hotel, an elated Engen said he’s humbled Missoulians elected him to succeed Mike Kadas.

“I’m feeling wonderful,� Engen tells New West, “It’s a great night.�

Engen says he’s looking forward to following up on the big ticket issues raised in the last eight months of campaigning. Straight away, the Garden City’s next mayor wants to talk open space, and how best to acquire more of it. Engen says he’s also eager to tackle affordable housing and responsible high density development, that he hopes will benefit a diverse range of Missoulians.

“This is all about working together,� Engen continues, “I’m not a career politician, I’m mostly a hopeful public servant.�

The tightest City Council race saw Bob Jaffe take Ward 3's spot with 50 percent of the vote while Lee Clemmensen came in close behind with 49 percent of the vote.

All total, 33 percent of Missoula's registered voters turned out for the election.

City Council races shook out like this:

Ward 1:
Dave Strohmaier: 1,383, 60 percent
Cass Chinske: 879, 38 percent

Ward 2:
John Hendrickson: 834, 50 percent
John Couch: 798, 48 percent

Ward 3:
Bob Jaffe: 1,228, 50 percent
Lee Clemmensen: 1,194, 49 percent

Ward 4:
Jon Wilkins: 1,125, 52 percent
Timothy Lovely: 1,014, 47 percent

Ward 5:
Dick Haines: 1,265, 65 percent
Mark Fitzgerald: 677, 34 percent

Ward 6:
Marilyn Marler: 790, 59 percent
Write-in (Clayton Floyd has campaigned as write-in): 354, 26 percent
Jeffrey-James Halvorson: 151, 13 percent

Fire Bond:
For: 8,129, 70 percent
Against: 3,439, 29 percent

School District 4 Technology Prop:
For: 611, 60 percent
Against: 402, 39 percent

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