There remains no clear winner for the Great Bend City Council Ward 4 seat following Tuesday’s general election, even though the unofficial write-in vote totals have been tallied, Barton County Election Officer Donna Zimmerman said. This is the position vacated after Andrew Erb, who didn’t seek reelection, and no one filed for the opening.

As of Wednesday afternoon, four candidates had garnered write-in votes: Brock McPherson, who currently holds the other Ward 4 seat, five votes; Randy Myers, who fell short in his bid for mayor Tuesday, four; Jared Chansler, four; and Angela Delgado-Sycz, three. There were a total of 49 votes cast, 33 of which were unassigned.

However, a winner cannot yet be certified, Zimmerman said. There were still 29 provisional ballots, those cast by voters who moved within the county or changed names, and about six advance ballots yet to be counted. These could swing the results.

Vote totals remain unofficial. The vote counts won’t be certified until they are canvassed Monday morning by the Barton County Commission, acting as the Board of Canvassers.

The council consists of eight members, with two representing each of the four wards and each serving two-year terms. Every year, one seat in each ward is up for election.

McPherson was elected in November 2018, meaning he is up for reelection in 2020. But, Zimmerman said should he win, it is possible he could resign his current seat and take the other Ward 4 position, postponing a reelection bid until 2021.

Should there be a winner who declines the post, the vacancy will be filled through an application process, officials said. Applications will be sought, and the mayor would appoint a committee of council members to review them, hold interviews and make a recommendation to the entire governing body.

According to a Great Bend charter ordinance, the mayor and newly elected council members take office at the first council meeting in January following their November election.