Oakley voters delivered a decisive rebuke on Tuesday, ousting Mayor Zane Woolstenhulme in an overwhelming defeat and ending his shot at a second term.
Challenger Steve Wilmoth, who has served on the Oakley City Council for nearly a decade, earned almost double the incumbent’s total, according to unofficial election results. Wilmoth earned 435 votes, or more than 67%, compared to Woolstenhulme’s 210 votes, or about 33%. The wide margin reflects a shift among residents, many of whom appeared frustrated with the direction of the Oakley City Center project in recent months.
“I was taken aback and disappointed by the election outcome. What I’d hoped would be at least a two-mile race has turned into a mile run,” Woolstenhulme said in a statement. “I’m committed to serving diligently to the end of my term. I congratulate Steve Wilmoth and other newly elected members of the City Council and will do all I can to support them.”
The incumbent added that he is honored to have served as mayor and is proud of what the community has accomplished over the past four years. He said that would not have been possible without a transparent, collaborative effort.
“Oakley’s future is bright! For my part, I will always be willing to serve the community in any way that I can,” Woolstenhulme said.
Wilmoth admitted he also expected a closer race. But he said he didn’t feel nervous because his campaign was built on ensuring residents feel like their voices are heard. He spent Election Night bowling with his wife and friends, focused on being present in the moment rather than the results.
Leading up to the vote, Wilmoth spent a lot of time meeting with residents to hear their concerns. He hosted “town hall” style neighborhood meetings and went door-to-door. Wilmoth also praised and thanked everyone who supported him and stepped up, especially after the death of his father in the midst of the campaign.
The city center project was a top concern for voters, and the candidate’s approach to the topic appears to be a major defining point in the election.
While Woolstenhulme strived to make progress on the city center and hoped to complete a development agreement if re-elected, Wilmoth’s approach encouraged taking more time to ensure a proper plan is in place.
The message voters delivered on Election Day was that they wanted to see change. Wilmoth said residents may differ in what they actually want in the project, but the overall ideas and visions are similar.
The mayor-elect said he feels humbled by the support he received. His biggest fear is letting residents down, and Wilmoth said he won’t allow that to happen.
He recognized there is a lot of work to do to help manage growth and preserve Oakley’s small-town character, address the town center redevelopment and infrastructure upgrades, and foster civic engagement. Wilmoth will spend the next few weeks preparing a plan for how to start when he enters the mayor’s office.
“I think we can do it,” he said.
Wilmoth recognized that change is inevitable, so he likes to embrace it. After “moving the cheese,” he hopes community members and staff feel refreshed and renewed with a new administration.
There will also be two new city councilors: Christopher Dillman and Amy Regan.
Dillman was the top vote-getter with 442 votes, or 39%, while Regan garnered 385 votes, or 34%. Voters did not elect Kerbee Leavitt to the City Council; Leavitt received 303 votes, or almost 27%.
Dillman’s campaign focused on cautious growth in Oakley and bridging a disconnect between city officials and the community. Regan, meanwhile, hopes to preserve small-town charm while addressing growth and infrastructure needs.
Regan said she is grateful for the support of her friends and neighbors in Oakley. She was able to meet with many voters to hear their concerns and said going door-to-door was helpful.
Wilmoth said he is excited to work with Dillman, whom he knows through the Oakley Rodeo Committee, and is looking forward to the perspective Regan will bring to the City Council. He welcomed the chance to bring new people with new ideas to government, especially with important issues such as the city center project at the forefront.
“We’ll keep this small town rolling in the right direction,” Wilmoth said.
All election results are preliminary until certified in mid-November.