Incumbents getting swept in Gilbert Town Council election

The Gilbert Town Council is in line for a major overhaul if the initial election results from Tuesday’s election hold up.

Four seats were up for grabs on the East Valley suburb’s seven-member governing body. The election drew seven candidates, including three incumbents whose four-year terms are ending.

Councilmember Yung Koprowski did not seek reelection, but Chuck Bongiovanni, Bobbi Buchli and Jim Torgeson did.

Gilbert residents have been unhappy with utility rate hikes that have doubled the average cost of water and trash service over the last two years.

They apparently took out their frustrations at the ballot box, because challengers held the top four spots after the first wave of tabulation.

Beth Goulden was the leading vote-getter, with Bill Spence, Joel Coen and Bus Obayomi also in position to win seats.

What are the Gilbert Town Council election results?

Here are the unofficial results for the Gilbert Town Council election as of Wednesday morning, with 37,874 ballots cast, per the Maricopa County Elections Department:

• Beth Goulden, 17.4%, 20,555 votes
• Bill Spence, 16%, 18,941
• Joel Coen, 15.8%, 18,681
• Bus Obayomi, 14.7%, 17,307
• Chuck Bongiovanni, 13.5%, 15,962
• Jim Torgeson, 13.1%, 15,519
• Bobbi Buchli, 9.5%, 11,190

According to the Gilbert Town Clerk’s Office, the four leading candidates are over the threshold needed to be elected without a runoff.

Goulden, who spent 25 years with the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department, and Coen, a business owner, are making their first runs for office.

Spence, a retired U.S. Navy lieutenant commander, and Obayomi, a data strategist, came up short in previous Gilbert Town Council runs.

Spence held a council seat for nine months after being appointed to fill a vacancy in 2020.

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