Poulsbo Councilwoman Becky Erickson is leading incumbent Mayor Kathryn Quade by about 8.4 percent in the first round of election results released Tuesday night.

“I’m surprised there is this much of a spread,” Erickson said, assuming her lead would be more modest. “But I worked hard for this. Everyone in this room worked hard for this.”

About 1,870 ballots were counted in the first tally. Erickson leads 1,006 to 849.

In the contested City Council race, Councilwoman Kim Crowder and former Councilman Jim Henry are locked in a virtual tie, with Crowder leading by five votes, 887 to 882.

Councilmembers Ed Stern and Dale Rudolph ran unopposed.

About 5,000 ballots were mailed out for the election. Countywide turnout is expected to be about 50 percent.

Quade addressed a group of her supporters after receiving the numbers. Although she stayed upbeat, she conceded that it would be difficult to overcome Erickson’s lead.

“Historically the numbers come in and don’t change very much,” Quade said.

“I have to say I’m disappointed,” Quade said. “But I’m not disappointed in the effort we put out.”

Quade said if the tally holds, she would work to ensure a smooth transition of power.

“We gave it a good run,” Quade said. “I’m proud of what I’ve done.”

Craig Hammond, owner of Bayside Engravers in downtown Poulsbo, lives outside the city limits but was supporting Quade.

He said he was surprised by the preliminary results.

“She seemed more in touch with the people in town (than Erickson),” he said.

Bill Crews spent 12 days knocking on doors for Quade and said he was disappointed in the results.

He blamed the apparent loss on some residents’ unhappiness with the location of the new City Hall, currently under construction in downtown.

He said it doesn’t take much to swing the vote.

“This is a small town,” he said.

Crowder said she was surprised the margin is so close, saying she believed she ran a respectable campaign.

“Life certainly is not predictable,” she said.

Henry said he didn’t know what to expect.

“I just gave it my best and didn’t look behind me,” he said.

The next round of results are expected to be released after 5 p.m. Nov. 4.

The Kitsap County Auditor’s Office estimated it had about 21,000 ballots left to count countywide.

Herald reporters Tad Sooter and Andrew Binion compiled this report.