Matthew Tirman may soon be taking a seat on the Bainbridge Island City Council.

Tirman was leading with 58 percent of the vote over fellow South Ward candidate Theodore “Ted” Jones, who had 41 percent, in the first vote count on Election Night.

Tirman has 2,728 votes, while Jones has 1,919, so far. The next vote tally is planned for the afternoon of Wednesday, Nov. 8.

Both Tirman and Jones are newcomers to elected politics, although Jones has served as a precinct committee officer (an elected party position) for the Tolo Precinct twice.

Tirman, 36, has lived on Bainbridge since 2012. He is the chief commercial officer of PlanetRisk, a global big data analytics company based out of Washington, D.C.

During the campaign, Tirman promised to be a collaborative decision-maker, and vowed to make sure the policies of the city’s updated Comprehensive Plan — the expansive planning document that will guide and direct growth on the island over the next two decades — are reflected in rewritten development regulations. He also pledged to make affordable housing a priority.

Jones, 59, has been a Bainbridge resident since 1997 and had a 30-year career with the Navy as a civilian engineer.

He also promised to work to protect Bainbridge’s environment, and said he would try to create more trust in city government, which has seen consistently low ratings in public polls in recent years.

Dividing lines were few in the race, although Jones received a fair amount of criticism for his support of Island Power’s attempt to force a public vote on the controversial proposed takeover of Puget Sound Energy’s assets on the island and the creation of a city-led public power company.

No matter the eventual outcome of the race, Bainbridge will see a new councilman serving in the South Ward, District 3 seat on the city council.

The seat is currently held by incumbent Councilman Roger Townsend, who decided against seeking a second term.

The winner will take his place on the dais in January.