Initial results from the Tempe election suggest the General Plan measure will pass by a large margin, and newcomer Nikki Amberg will sit on the City Council alongside Doreen Garlid and Randy Keating, both incumbents facing reelection. Mayor Corey Woods will win reelection as he ran unopposed.
According to unofficial initial results as of 10:18 a.m. on March 14, Garlid still leads the vote totals at 24.7%, followed by Keating and Amberg at 22.4% and 21.6%, respectively. The other two candidates, David Lucier and Hugo Tapia, both remain around 15.6%.
"The voters have spoken, and they have embraced a positive vision of our city that acknowledges the challenges we face, as well as the opportunities that are within our grasp if we are willing to listen to each other and work together to address our problems," Amberg wrote in a statement. "I am honored by the trust they placed in me, and I will work everyday as Councilmember to make Tempe an even better place to live, work and raise a family."
READ MORE: Nikki Amberg looks to tackle housing issues in Tempe city council race
Despite anti-development sentiment in the city stemming from the doomed Arizona Coyotes arena deal from last year, City Council and proponents of the General Plan say Tempe is landlocked and there is nowhere to grow but up — meaning the city must make room for more high-rises to be built.
Residents seemingly agree, 61.4% voting to approve Proposition 478 by a 23-point margin, according to unofficial initial results.
Edited by Alysa Horton, Sadie Buggle and Caera Learmonth.
Editor's note: This article was updated at 10:25 a.m. on March 13 with new comments from Amberg. This story may be updated as official results are canvassed and posted.
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