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HOME	CLASSIFIEDS	OBITUARIES	SPORTS	OPINION

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Former Mayor Beats Out Ring and Calkins

By Lee Ross
Telegraph Staff Report; Mountain View Telegraph
    With a clear lead over the other candidates, preliminary results show Robert Stearley will be the next mayor of Edgewood.
    "We worked real hard for this election," Stearley said. "I'm extremely pleased with the results."
    Stearley took in 399 votes, about 51 percent of the 777 votes cast.
    Howard Calkins and Stearley were both present in the Edgewood Community Center as the final tally was announced about 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
    Upon hearing the results, Stearley remained seated, his face impassive, as he recorded the numbers. He smiled briefly as he shook the hand of Janelle Turner, who was seated next to him.
    Calkins also shook Stearley's hand and congratulated him. He invited everyone present in the community center, excluding Stearley, to a small get-together after the election.
    In the three-way race, Chuck Ring and Calkins, got 172 and 204 votes, respectively.
    "I think it's time for me to back out, due to my age," said Calkins, who is in his 80s. "The way I feel now, in a sense, is relief."
    He said he plans to live in Edgewood for the rest of his life and will continue to be involved with the town in other ways, such as the Estancia Valley Economic Development Association.
    "I will still be involved," he said. "I will not get in Mr. Stearley's way."
    He mentioned that he may also visit his daughters, who live in different places across the country.
    Ring, Calkins and Stearley have a long history in town government, going back to the time it was incorporated, in 1999.
    While Stearley and Calkins have both done stints as mayor and councilor, as well as having been out of town government entirely, this election marks the first time since incorporation that Ring will not serve as a councilor.
    "I took a shellackin' and now I'm going packin'," Ring said. "I ran a good campaign, it just wasn't good enough ... I'm resigned to the fact that I need to look at doing some other things."
    Now retired, Ring said he plans to enjoy his family and pets, get more involved with his church and do some hiking and biking.
    "I'm sorry I lost, of course, but life goes on," he said. "I'm not going to analyze what happened."
    Before the election there was talk of Ring and Calkins splitting the vote to give Stearley the win. With Stearley taking just over half the total votes, that was apparently not a vital issue in the election.
    "That is very satisfying," Stearley responded when the margin of his victory was pointed out to him. "The attacking nature of the election made it very difficult."
    Stearley said he felt he was able to get his platform across in response to attacks.
    Out of 2,112 registered voters in Edgewood, around 37 percent cast a ballot.