Mirroring the trend of the County as a whole, just under half of the more than 17,500 eligible Island voters or 9,600 people, cast their ballots in the Nov. 5 General Election.

Nearly a third of those who did vote, skipped voting for candidates for Mercer Island City Council.

In the two contested City  Council races, Positions 2 and 6, just 6,800 voters, or about 70 percent of those who voted, chose to vote on the candidates vying for the open city council races.

Just over half of those who voted or 54 percent, checked the box next to City Council incumbent Tana Senn who ran unopposed for her seat.

As of Friday evening Nov. 8, the most recent statistics available before Reporter deadline, indicates that 7,500 voters made a choice in the race for City Council Pos. 2, electing incumbent, Dan Grausz with 4,235 votes, over challenger, Kevin Scheid with 3,260 votes — a difference of 975 votes.

There were 9 votes for write-in candidates for Pos. 2.

In the race for Pos. 6, between, Rich Erwin and Benson Wong, a total of 7,400 votes were cast with the majority or 4,900 going to Wong. Fourteen voters added a write-in candidate as their choice.

A total of 5,314 voters cast their ballot for incumbent Senn who also holds the position of State Representative in the Washington State Legislature. She was appointed to that  post in September, replacing former State Rep. Marcie Maxwell who resigned.

Nearly 200 voters  designated their vote for a write-in candidate for Senn’s seat on the Council.

Reached by telephone, Senn said she is pleased to continue representing the people of Mercer Island.

On the somewhat low turnout for the election, she noted that voting is an opportunity for people to be heard.

“Democracy is always better when more people are engaged,” she said.

“On the other hand, perhaps it means that things are going well,” she added.

Islander John Urquhart was re-elected to his position as King County Sheriff with 99 percent of the vote county-wide. There were 2700 write-in votes counted.

Election results are to be certified on Nov. 26. Councilmembers will be sworn in early in the new year.