The only surprise in the Wayland City election Tuesday was that newcomer Gary Smith was the highest vote-getter among three candidates running unopposed.
Smith polled 196 votes, Councilman Rick Mathis 195 and Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Antel 187. Councilwoman Lisa Banas decided against seeking re-election after serving two, two-year terms.
City Clerk Michelle Herman, overseeing her final election before retirement next month, reported there were 254 votes cast out of a possible 2,906, or 8.74 percent.
Smith, Mathis and Antel will serve for at least two years. The elections are held every year in November, but three other council members, Abe Garcia, Joe Kramer and Tim Rose, and Mayor Tim Bala were elected in November 2018.
