All four incumbents in the Oro Valley mayoral and Town Council recall election were leading their races, early results indicated.
The totals available late Tuesday included only early mail-in ballots. Votes cast on election day at polling locations had not been counted as of press time.
However, none of the challengers admitted defeat Tuesday night.
Incumbent Satish Hiremath, who has been mayor for five years, was leading against challenger Pat Straney, who ran against him in last year’s election. Hiremath was ahead 51 percent to Straney’s 43 percent.
“I was very thrilled with the large voter turnout we had, which I think mimicked the 2014 election,” Hiremath said. “I’m not quite sure yet, but I’m still pretty hopeful that I’ll retain my seat.”
He acknowledged there will be a lot of fence-mending to do in the community, but is hopeful that the end of the recall election will go a long way to improving morale.
Straney wished the council good luck, saying there would be change to come.
In the council races:
- Lou Waters
- , six-year Town Council member, was ahead of challenger
- Steve Didio
- ,
- 52 to 48 percent.
Despite the early indications, Didio remained optimistic. “No one is losing tonight,” he said. “Nothing is official.”
- Joe Hornat
- had a slight lead over challenger
- Ryan Hartung
- ,
- 51 to 49 percent.
- Mary Snider
- was leading challenger
- Shirl Lamonna
- ,
- 51 percent to 36 percent, with
- Doug Burke
- a distant third. Snider has been a Town Council member since 2010.
“At least the people had a voice, and that was my goal,” Lamonna said as the challengers’ viewing party began to wrap up shortly before 10 p.m.
The recall was initiated after the council and mayor voted to approve the $1 million purchase of El Conquistador Country Club and a half-cent sales increase to pay for improvements to the clubhouse, which has been converted to a community center.
The Oro Valley Community and Recreation Center remained a point of contention in the months leading up to the election, with the challengers asserting that the council lacked transparency during the process of buying the country club.
