(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)
VENICE – City of Venice voters retained Vice Mayor Jim Boldt in Seat 4, instead of challenger Joan Iacono, and elected newcomer Kevin Engelke in Seat 3 instead of Patricia Ouellette in what can arguably be considered a vote of confidence for the current direction of the Venice City Council.
Boldt won about 54% of the vote to beat Iacono, while Engleke earned nearly 54% of the vote to top Ouellette.
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Engleke, who was at a victory party that included Boldt at Shuck ‘N’ Ale in Venice, said he thought the fact that he was friendly and inclusive on the campaign trail played a part in his win, as well as the fact that “it was more than just a one-trick pony election.”
Engelke noted that Ouellette and Iacono appeared together at several campaign gatherings “focused on growth.”
“But this city is about a whole lot of things,” Engelke said. “Growth is very important.