Northern Nevada cities elect new mayors

Wednesday, June 9, 1999 | 1:41 a.m.

Only a handful of northern Nevada cities held municipal elections on Tuesday and of those, most got new mayors because the incumbent didn't seek a new term.

In Sparks, veteran City Councilman Tony Armstrong topped businesswoman Peggy O'Neill with 54.4 percent of the vote to her 45.3 percent. Incumbent Bruce Breslow opted against a third term.

And the city's lone Council race saw former Navy officer Mike Carrigan pull out a 40-vote squeaker over Dave Stefan for the seat being exited by Cindy Henderson.

Ely's mayoral race also ended in a cliffhanger with Bob Miller holding on for a 584-556 victory over Randy Conner to succeed the departing Jack Smith.

Carlin Mayor Linda Bingaman was an exception in Tuesday's races - an incumbent who won, easily gathering re-election in a five-way race.

A seven-way contest for two Council seats saw John "Woody" Kirkwood and Lisa C. Wilcox emerge victorious. Kathie J. Christensen, the lone incumbent, was ousted.

Wells voters passed harsh judgment on Mayor Chuck Riegel, casting him out with 10 percent of the vote for a distant third in a three-way race won by Councilman Rusty Tybo.

Incumbent Councilman Patrick D. Moore also was defeated in his bid for re-election to a four-year term, losing a four-way race by 10 votes to Tim Van Duzer.

Gary Botts, Dick Smith and Chuck Sallee were elected to the Council in 1997 and all have resigned since, creating a seven-way race for their three posts.

Kerry Robinson, Terrie Lundy and Hank Chapman Jr. were elected to the two year terms - Chapman by two votes over Pax Kelly.

In West Wendover, Mayor Walt Sanders topped Gene McGillivray 213-143 in a rerun of their 1995 contest.

A tight four-way contest for a pair of four-year Council terms went to incumbent Jim Eveleth with 176 and challenger Joel Murphy with 178. Incumbent John Johnson barely trailed with 170 and Andrea Level got 156.

Mike Miera won a two-year term over Ron Vollman 211-155. Miera was appointed to the Council in March to succeed Reese Melville.