Roger Townsend has bypassed opponent Dee McComb in the race for the South Ward, Position 3 seat on the Bainbridge Island City Council.

Townsend led the race in the fist vote count released by the Kitsap County Elections Division on Election Night.

Townsend had 67.6 percent of the vote, while McComb trailed behind with 32.2 percent.

The first vote tally was 3,449-1,641.

In the campaign leading up to elections, both candidates described their race as not coming from diametrically opposite views.

Nonetheless, Townsend ran his campaign based on his training in civil litigation and his commitment to making sure the city’s tax dollars are spent on the purposes they are collected. He focused on bringing transparency and trust to city government by cultivating cooperation and collaboration on the dais.

Townsend, 45, is an attorney and has been a partner at his own firm since 2007.

He is also the only candidate who has young children still in Bainbridge schools.

McComb, 65, has been in the real estate settlement business for more than 35 years and is an escrow educator. She has worked at the legislative level and national regulatory level for the settlement industry. In the campaign for city council, McComb has based much of her race on this experience.

In her statement for the county voter’s guide, McComb said that fairness for utility ratepayers, consistency in implementing the impact of SMP changes, and looking into alternative revenue sources that go beyond real estate recovery development and impact fees were all important.

McComb has lived on the island for 33 years. Her husband and her have raised a family through Bainbridge schools.

The elected candidate will take up the position currently held by Councilwoman Kirsten Hytopoulos.

Hytopoulos has decided not to run for reelection.

Voters also cast ballots in two other races for the Bainbridge Island City Council.

Val Tollefson and Dick Haugan vy for the North Ward, Position 7 seat and Arlene Buetow and Wayne Roth look to win the Central Ward, Position 5 seat.

There are no incumbents in this election.