Kingfisher voters will choose between civil engineer Geoff Covalt and assisted living center administrator Kaci Farrar as their new city commissioner in a runoff election Sept. 14.

Covalt and Farrar were the top two vote-getters Tuesday in a three-way race that also included incumbent Richard Ray Reynolds.

Covalt led in the low turnout race, carrying 218 of the 511 total votes cast by city residents.

However, his 44.66% of the votes fell short of the at least 50%-plus-one-vote majority required by the city charter to be declared the outright winner.

He and Farrar, with 170 of the votes cast (33.27%) will appear on the Sept. 14 runoff ballot.

Meanwhile, incumbent Reynolds, with 123 votes (24.07%) will remain in the seat until his replacement is sworn into office at the October board meeting.

Both Covalt, a partner in the engineering firm CEC Corporation, and Farrar, Countrywood Assisted Living Center administrator, expressed appreciation to voters and are encouraging more participation in the runoff election.

“I really didn’t know what to expect about turnout to be real honest. It’s been a really weird year with the pandemic,” Covalt said. “The one voice that residents have is their vote and I would encourage everyone to go to the polls in September and support the candidate they think is best suited for the position.”

“Our community must make their needs and wishes known,” Farrar said. “A huge part of that is voting – it’s getting curious and asking questions and putting your faith in a representative that you believe will positively impact your life through their service and mission.”

Both candidates also encouraged residents to stay involved with city government even after the election.

“I would encourage people to be involved and to continue that support and communication with all the commissioners,” Covalt said. “The only way that we can move Kingfisher forward is to ensure that different perspectives are heard and agree to do what is best with the community.”

“I want to see my friends and neighbors excited about what their local representatives are doing in their community,” Farrar said. “I want to see more people getting in volved in government and the future we are building for Kingfisher.”

City Manager Dave Slezickey said the city was fortunate that the race drew three qualified candidates.

“We had three high caliber residents wanting to serve the community,” he said. “Regardless of the outcome of the runoff, we all win as a community with whomever is elected.”

He also commended Reynolds’ service following his appointment five months ago to finish the unex pired term of Roxanne Alexander, who vacated the seat when she was elected mayor.

“Richard has brought a lot to the table to continue to grow and develop our community,” Slezickey said.

He noted that the city has no control over the five-month delay until the runoff election, which is scheduled by the state election board.

Votes By Precinct Precinct 101 – Farrar 84, Covalt 96, Reynolds 64.

Precinct 101 – Farrar 84, Covalt 96, Reynolds 64.

Precinct 301 – Farrar 86, Covalt 122, Reynolds 59.

Okarche Town Board

Jeff Brueggen emerged the winner of a four-candidate race for an unexpired, two-year term on the Okarche Town Board, with only a plurality of votes required, rather than a 50%-plus-one majority.

Brueggen carried 85 of the total votes cast (47.49%) in Kingfisher and Canadian counties Tuesday, followed by Robert Ford with 51 votes (28.49%), John Endres with 35 votes (19.55%) and Brooke Thornton with 8 votes (4.47%).

Loyal Town Board

Loyal residents re-elected incumbent town clerk Pamela Schlegel and incumbent trustee Floyd Glazier at the annual town meeting Tuesday night at the Lions Building.

Other members of the town board include trustees Jim Savage and Jon Cochran Sr. and town treasurer Dorothy Glazier.

Results of Cashion’s annual town meeting to elect officers will appear in Wednesday’s newspaper.