By David colburn

News editor

An unidentified write-in candidate has tentatively won a seat on the Peabody City Council, beating three registered candidates who appeared on the ballot.

The mystery candidate joins newcomer Megan Holt and incumbent Travis Wilson as the top three candidates to win council seats.

Larry Larsen retained the mayor position, fending off a challenge from council member Stephen Rose.

County Clerk Tina Spencer declined Tuesday to release the names of any write-in candidates countywide. Variant spellings, ballots with names written in but not marked, and the sheer number of different names for various positions were reasons Spencer cited for withholding the write-in leaders until the votes are canvassed and certified Friday. She stressed all numbers at this time are unofficial.

The outcome of the USD 398 school board race held no mystery. All four registered candidates -- Timothy Caldwell, Terril Eberhard,, Alicia Morse, and Glendon Parks -- won seats.

Florence will apparently have a new mayor, as challenger Robert ‘Bob’ Gayle upset incumbent Mary Shipman 65-52.

Florence 1st Ward will have a new representative on the city council. Paul Reilly Reid defeated Dan Ludwig 32-20. Trayce Warner won the 2nd Ward race running unopposed.

One person unofficially has 16 write-in votes for Burns mayor, Spencer said. Roland Boesker won a seat on the Burns city council; a second spot has 19 write-in ballots.