Six Mesquite council hopefuls advance to general election

A field of nine candidates was narrowed to six on Tuesday as voters in Mesquite seek to fill three of the five seats on their City Council.

Incumbent Councilmen Robert "Bubba" Smith, Karl Gustaveson and Bill Wells all survived the primary vote, though two of them appear to have their work cut out for them in the June 2 general election. Gustaveson finished fourth and Wells fifth.

The three seats will go to the top three finishers in the general election.

Donna Fairchild came in first with about 16 percent of the votes cast. Smith and W.G. "Geno" Withelder each took about 15 percent, though Smith finished second by two votes.

Charles "Charlie" Sellner won the sixth spot on the ballot.

Almost 2,500 of the city's 6,713 active registered voters cast ballots, a 37 percent turnout. In the 2007 primary, turnout approached 60 percent.

Mesquite is governed by five City Council members and a mayor who only casts votes to break ties.