It was close, but the race for Austin’s Second Ward City Council seat is now between appointed incumbent Roger Boughton and challenger Pete Christopherson.

Wednesday, September 13, 2000

It was close, but the race for Austin’s Second Ward City Council seat is now between appointed incumbent Roger Boughton and challenger Pete Christopherson. Only 18 votes separated Christopherson from Garry Ellingson, who is now out of the race.

Boughton led the pack with a Second Ward total of 389 votes, Christopherson had 311 votes and Ellingson 293 votes. It was the voters in the First Precinct (Banfield School) that put Boughton in the lead: he came in with 232 votes there, compared to Christopherson’s 138 and Ellingson’s 128. At Southgate School’s Second Precinct, the appointed incumbent got the lowest number of votes: 157 for Boughton compared to 165 for Ellingson and 173 for Christopherson.

Ellingson, a retired chief sheriff’s deputy, was disappointed with the results. This was his third try for the Second Ward seat, although his first city election. The first two times he applied to be appointed to the seat: first when it was vacated first by Roberto Romo, then when Romo’s replacement, Todd Penske, stepped down because of conflict of interest.

"Obviously I’m disappointed, but if that’s what the voters want, that’s what they got," he said Tuesday night after hearing the news. "I tried and that’s all anyone can do."

Almost 21 percent of the registered voters in Austin’s Second Ward turned up at the polls for Tuesday’s primary. Voter turnout across the city averaged just more than 20 percent: a figure ahead of the statewide predictions but behind the 25 percent primary turnout two years ago in Austin when there were two citywide races.

Christopherson found out he’d made it through the primary when two TV stations – KTTC and KAAL – showed up at his home for a comment. An hour and a half later, the news was still sinking in.

"It kind of took my breath away," the 30-year-old carpenter and part-time Austin firefighter said. "It’s going to be awhile before it all sinks in, but I’m glad I made it through the first hurdle. I want to thank everyone who voted for me."

Boughton, who was out sailing Albert Lea’s Pelican Breeze tour boat when the results were final, also was ecstatic and thankful when he got home at 11 p.m.

"It’s a wonderful feeling, and a humbling one," the retired Riverland Community College administrator said. "People putting their trust in you – I’m grateful for that and thankful to all the people who worked so hard for me."

This is the first time both Boughton and Christopherson have run for elected office. Although Boughton is considered the incumbent and does sit on the council, he was appointed to the Second Ward seat in January of this year. Both men are looking toward the Nov. 7 General Election now.

Christopherson is looking at a delayed honeymoon first. He and wife Diane were married earlier this year, but delayed their honeymoon until after the primary election.

"After we get back, then we’re going to sit down and talk to some people about campaign strategy," Christopherson said.

Boughton said the most important issues to him are affordable housing, public safety and possibly the new Welcome Center and all that its existence entails and implies.

If elected, Christopherson said his top three priorities would be upgrading public safety, flood control and "keeping the city out of the real estate business."