McCoy elected; Walker, Smith advance to June election

Mona Shield Payne/Special to the Sun

Cam Walker receives a high five from his brother-in-law, Doug Broadbent, left, after the announcement that Walker received the most votes in the early voting of the primary election for a seat on the Boulder City Council during his watch party Tuesday night at Kirk and Vivian Harrison’s home.

By Cassie Tomlin (contact)

Published Tuesday, April 7, 2009 | 8:41 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, April 7, 2009 | 10:36 p.m.

Duncan McCoy was elected to the Boulder City Council in the Tuesday primary election, and a June election will decide whether Bill Smith or Cam Walker fills the other open seat.

That decision will likely determine whether Mayor Roger Tobler maintains a "voting majority" on the council.

In unofficial results, McCoy, the city's former library director, garnered more than 50 percent of the number of voters casting ballots, so he bypasses a runoff election, said Deputy City Clerk Lorrene Krumm.

Of the 3,971 voters who cast ballots, McCoy received 2,000, which is 25.81 percent of votes, Krumm said.

There are 10,038 active voters in Boulder City.

McCoy and either Smith or Walker will in July replace Councilman Mike Pacini, who could not run again because of term limits, and Councilwoman Andrea Anderson, who is retiring.

McCoy, second only to Walker in the amount of campaign money raised since January, said he was "humbled" to be elected and would bolster Walker's campaign.

"I'm ready to go to work, and if Cam needs my assistance going into a June runoff, then I'll do whatever I can to help him out," he said.

Walker, a project development director and former Las Vegas Monorail executive, received 1,947 votes, which is 25.12 percent. Smith, a former councilman from 1997 to 2001, received 1,252 votes, which is 16.15 percent.

Walker has in this election been aligned with McCoy, whom Tobler had endorsed. In his campaign, Walker said energy leases should help settle city debt, and he stressed the city needs to plan for the expected 2010 opening of the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge.

Smith stressed city finances should be settled -- starting with the Boulder Creek Golf Course. He also has called for an overhaul of the city's Redevelopment Agency.

Councilman Travis Chandler and Councilwoman Linda Strickland, who were elected in 2007 as progressives, often vote against Tobler's, Anderson's and Pacini's decisions.

If elected, Smith could shift the balance of power by backing Strickland and Chandler, who said they'd continue campaigning for Smith.

Smith, who was in California, couldn't be reached for comment.

McCoy said he's been working in Boulder City for almost 20 years and thinks voters recognized his commitment to the community.

"Everybody knows I'm a hard worker, and I'll approach my service on the City Council the same," he said.

Tobler agreed McCoy's background pushed him through to election.

"I think it sends a pretty strong message where the votes went," he said. "I commend all of them for running. It isn't an easy thing to go through."

Walker said he was encouraged by voter turnout and will continue his campaign.

"I look forward to the opportunity to talk about the issues and be more open with the community as far as the direction Boulder City is going to take in the future," he said.

Ten candidates appeared on the ballot, but nine were in the running. Tim Clifford dropped out of the race in February, citing time constraints. Despite redacting his candidacy, Clifford won 42 votes.

Joe Roche, a consultant, garnered the fifth most votes, with 977.

Matt DiTeresa, an operating engineer, had 689 votes.

Jim Reed, a retired Boulder City Police officer, had 346 votes.

Chris Gatlin, who owns a local business, had 258 votes.

John Schleppegrell, who sits on the Planning Commission, had 168 votes.

Anthony Pakula, who retired from Hoover Dam, had 71 votes.