SEATTLE -- It became the closest, most competitive Seattle race of 2015, but more than a month after Election Day, results are official for West Seattle and South Park's District 1 council seat.
Lisa Herbold, a longtime aide to Councilmember Nick Licata, won by just 39 votes over Shannon Braddock. A hand recount by King County Elections confirmed the results Monday afternoon.
"The anticipation and the anxiety have definitely subsided since the daily counts ended," Herbold said from City Hall Monday.
Braddock, chief of staff to King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, initially led by around 700 votes on election night, but Herbold consistently picked up votes in the late ballot returns.
Herbold credits her ground game and voter outreach for the slim victory.
"I had volunteers who by the end of the campaign has logged hundreds of door knocking hour. That really makes a difference in a district race," she said.
"Even though it was very close race, it is possible to win despite being outspent 3 to 1," said Herbold.
Braddock, who was endorsed by the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce sponsored political action committee, received over $200,000 in outside spending over the course of the August Primary and General Election.
Braddock released a statement Monday congratulating Herbold which said in part: "It has been a privilege to be a candidate to represent West Seattle and South Park and I will continue to be engaged in our community in my professional and personal life."
Meanwhile, Herbold, who ran outgoing Councilmember Nick Licata's 1997 campaign for council, has spent the past 18 years working behind the scenes in Seattle City Hall. She is now preparing to transition from seasoned legislative aide to elected office.
"There's going to be an adjustment," Herbold said. "I don't kid myself. My 18 years doesn't automatically mean I'm going to hit the ground running. I think the expectations are high for my representation. I do know a lot. I do have a perspective that is unique for an incoming councilmember, but you know, your role as a staff person is very different, so I'm going to have to figure out some new skills."
Herbold who considers Licata her number one political mentor plans to channel him during her upcoming term.
"I've started working on a list that I'm calling what would Nick do," Herbold said with a laugh. "A list of approaches and tactics to employ in certain situations. I'm working on it first, then handing it to him to fill out the rest of it."
Key issues cited in her district race included housing affordability, urban growth and transportation. Herbold said her style on council and driving core values will echo Licata's.
"We share values about the affordability of the city. We share values relating to making sure that the folks who are benefiting from the prosperity of the city are reinvesting in the city and making it more possible to have a city that works for everyone."
