Some changes are on the horizon for elected leaders in the city of Langley, and two bonds affecting South Whidbey homeowners appear to have passed the required 60% supermajority threshold.

As of Thursday night, Kennedy Horstman held a wide margin over Thomas Gill in the race to be Langley’s next mayor with 557 votes, which is about 78%.

“I am humbled and grateful for the support of the community and I am anxious to begin working together – with staff, council and community members – to improve how the city operates and to address the challenges we face,” Horstman said in an email to the Record, adding that she appreciated the way Gill conducted his campaign and his significant service to Langley.

Chris Carlson had a similarly healthy lead over his opponent, Kay Kenneweg, in the race for Position 3 on Langley City Council with 589 votes, or nearly 86%.

“We will work together over the next four years to make meaningful progress toward our shared vision of a more affordable, sustainable and inclusive Langley,” Carlson said on election night.

Incumbent Craig Cyr soundly defended his Position 4 seat on the Langley City Council from challenger Scott Chaplin, the city’s current mayor. Cyr received 555 votes, or around 81%.

“I have been honored to serve on the Langley City Council these past four years and I am grateful to Langley voters for the confidence they’ve expressed in me,” Cyr said. “I will continue to listen and do my best to represent the needs of Langley residents as well as the larger South Whidbey community.”

Besides these races in the Village by the Sea, little else changed for the other elected roles scattered throughout South Whidbey.

South Whidbey School Board incumbents Brook Willeford and Marnie Jackson ran unopposed in the election, as did Joe Greenheron, who was appointed to his seat in 2022.

Port of South Whidbey Commissioners Jack Ng and Greg Easton also ran unopposed for their seats, as did South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District Commissioners Krista Loercher and Jennifer Cox.

Voters showed support for the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District’s $27 million bond for the construction of an aquatic facility with 5,638 “yes” votes, or about 62.6%.

The South Whidbey School District’s $79.8 million bond earned 5,426 votes in favor, or about 60.3%.

“The bond is essential to the district’s ability to upgrade facilities. We are so pleased that our community has supported the district by passing the bond,” Superintendent Jo Moccia said Friday morning. “We look forward to official certification of the results so we may begin this much needed work.”

The next ballot count is 3 p.m. on Nov. 28. The total number of ballots counted so far is 28,611, according to the Island County Elections Office. All eligible ballots received to date have been included in the count.