The most lopsided victory in this week’s local elections – in fact, the most lopsided in any contested race in Pierce County since at least 2005 – came from the small town of Steilacoom.
It’s not often that an incumbent gains only 17 percent of the vote compared with her challenger’s 83 percent, but that’s what happened to Steilacoom Councilwoman Connie Aboubakr, who lost her Position 3 seat to attorney Steven Stovall.
It was the only contested race in the South Pierce County town. As of Wednesday evening’s updated but unofficial totals, the first-term councilwoman had garnered 186 votes to Stovall’s 902.
Both sides agree the incumbent’s defeat stemmed from her proposal to develop 4.7 acres she owns near Sunnyside Beach. Aboubakr and her husband Karim’s plans to build 12 large homes overlooking Puget Sound drew heated criticism from residents who want to keep the area forested.
“I knew it would cost me my seat,” Aboubakr said Wednesday. “I think a big factor was a group of radical people who don’t want me to develop my land at all.”
Stovall credited his victory to communication with citizens.
“I’m excited that the voters are supporting me so strongly,” he said, adding that during his campaign, he talked with residents who expressed concerns about Aboubakr’s property development.
“It just looked bad, is what I kept on hearing,” he said.
In 2008, the Aboubakrs requested that the Town Council rezone the wooded residential property so they could build seven houses and 10 condominiums. The zoning at the time allowed for 13 housing units.
In September that year, the Town Council unanimously rejected the proposal. Throughout the process, Aboubakr recused herself to avoid conflict of interest. Her second attempt, a revised plan to build 12 homes, was approved Aug. 4, 2009.
Resident Jeanette Pilgrim is worried that constructing homes will destroy the pristine site. “This is on one of the most beautiful pieces of property in town: It has wetlands, it has steep bluffs, it has heritage trees,” she said. “We understand that people own property and want to develop it, but they’re doing extreme things, in our view.”
Bob Rudolph, who campaigned for Stovall, agreed. “When you live in a town, you have a moral responsibility to maintain the ambiance.”
Mayor Ron Lucas, who won re-election with no opponent Tuesday, said that Aboubakr’s ouster was a natural result of “small-town politics.”
“Connie is a well-respected educator,” he said. “I want to make sure we’re not putting a black hat on someone who has made great contributions to schools and kids for many years.”
Aboubakr said her development plans are on hold, pending a lawsuit from Steven Bruno, whose land borders the property. The case, which names the town government and the Aboubakrs as defendants, is scheduled to be heard in Pierce County Superior Court in January.
Joyce Chen: 253-597-8426
joyce.chen@thenewstribune.com
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