VERO BEACH — With all votes counted, incumbent Councilman Dick Winger and challenger Amelia Graves have won the race for two Vero Beach City Council seats.
Councilman Winger, who received 2,044 votes, was the favorite to win Tuesday’s election as he began campaigning early in the year, raising $10,000 by early July to market his candidacy.
“This is your victory, not mine,” Winger said, addressing about 75 supporters who gathered to watch returns at his home.
His motto, “Keep Our Vero, Vero” seemed to resonate with voters concerned about maintaining the quality of life in the city.
“I think he cares deeply for this city,” said Winger supporter Linda Pillpott. “(This victory) is terrific and I think his focus of wanting to keep Vero Vero is terrific.”
Graves, who received 1,631 votes, had a solid grassroots effort with a good number of volunteers walking neighborhoods and waving signs at the polls. Graves celebrated with about 75 mostly youthful supporters at The Grove Bar in historic downtown Vero, but declined to comment on her victory.
“I didn’t really run an active campaign. I don’t know who the people are who voted me. I know a couple of formidable people who told me they’re going to vote for me , and I believe them. If I’d run for office 20 years ago, I could have won.”
Guffanti said asking for votes lured him out of his comfort zone, that pressing the flesh didn’t come naturally.
“I’ve become more or less a social recluse. I went to Downtown Friday because Brian Heady said he was going to be there. I stood there for 10 minutes and felt like a fish out of water so I left.”
Former mayor Warren Winchester dropped out of the race weeks ago for health reasons, but he managed to end up with 89 votes. More than 100 absentee ballots had already been mailed back to Supervisor of Elections Leslie Swan when Winchester exited.
Honey Minuse, a leader of the IRNA raised a glass high as she came over to Winger at his party. “You did it! Wow!” Minuse exclaimed.
“Yes, it’s over!” cheered Winger’s wife, Bobbie Winger.
Swan said there were no snags with equipment or with people during Tuesday’s election.
“Everything has gone as planned today. Wonderfully smooth day. Great poll workers and great staff,” she said.
Staff writers Michelle Genz, Meg Laughlin, Eileen Kelley and Mary Schenkel contributed to this report.
