GLADSTONE - It was a tight race between the five candidates running for three four-year-term seats on the Gladstone City Commission. Two incumbents and two newcomers were elected to the commission during Tuesday's city election.

Incumbents Darin Hunter and Hugo Mattonen were re-elected, along with newcomer Joe Maki, while long-time commissioner Jim McKnight and first-year candidate Matthew Gay fell by the wayside. Newcomer James Polley won the two-year-term seat by a landslide against write-in candidate Steve O'Driscoll.

Voter turnout was at a mere 7.6 percent in the Gladstone city election, with a total of 516 ballots cast.

Preliminary results show Hunter received 312 votes - the most in the four-year seat race. He was also the highest vote-getter in the mayoral advisory race, with 162 votes. (The new commission will vote to appoint a new city mayor at the reorganizational meeting Monday, Nov. 9).

Trailing closely behind in the four-year seat race was first-year candidate Joe Maki with 302 votes. Mattonen received 277 votes, and was the second highest vote-getter in the mayoral advisory race with 132 votes.

Incumbent Jim McKnight, who has served on the commission for nine years, did not receive enough votes to get him a spot in the top three. With 255 votes, he was just 23 votes short of gaining re-election. First-time candidate Matthew Gay received 230 votes.

With 340 votes, Polley gained election to the two-year seat on the commission. O'Driscoll received 79 votes.

Hunter admitted he was surprised at being the highest vote-getter, but said he's excited and willing to accept the challenges the city of Gladstone may face.

"It's a compliment that citizens entrusted me to make the decisions that may need to be made. I'm excited...to continue to make the conscientious decisions that citizens voted for me to do. I want to wish congratulations to the newcomer commissioners and the incumbents."

Hunter also wished to recognize long-time commissioner Jim McKnight for his years of service within the city of Gladstone.

"I want to give an honorary farewell to Jim McKnight for his years of service in the city," said Hunter. "His efforts will not go unnoticed."

Mattonen said he is pleased to be re-elected and looks forward to working with the two new commissioners

"It's always good to get new faces to get a different perspective and I'm looking forward to working for the new commission," he said. "I've been involved in politics for a good number of years and I try to be honest and do the very best for the citizens, and I believe they're recognizing that."

As a new candidate who received the second highest number of votes, Maki said he was pleased to see the citizens of Gladstone had such confidence in him.

"I'm glad they have enough confidence in me to see if I can put my former experience to work in the city," he said. "Governments are in trouble at every level and I look forward to the challenge."

Polley said he is excited to be a part of the decisions made within the city of Gladstone and hopes to help put Gladstone in a better place, financially, as well as to maintain public safety.

"I'm excited to be a part of the city as it goes in a more different direction...," he said. "I'm excited to help with the budget and to get back to a more comfortable position."