The atmosphere at the Lighthouse restaurant was friendly and hopeful on Nov. 3, the night of Port Orchard’s city elections. Incumbent mayor Tim Matthes was joined by council candidates Nick Whittleton, write-in Bill Christensen and other candidates and supporters in the restaurant’s banquet room awaiting results.

It didn’t take much time for their faces to turn downcast.

“I’m sad that I disappointed so many people, but it is what it is,” Matthes said. “The sun’s coming up tomorrow and we’ve still got two more months.”

During the night leading up to the announcement of the results, Matthes was talking with the other candidates about his support of them and their ideas.

“I was really rooting for these guys even if I lost,” he said. “We’re done this time, but that doesn’t mean the next time.”

Other supporters were not as accepting as the current mayor of Port Orchard, one who said, “This is terribly sad for our town.”

Had Christensen won, he would have been the first write-in candidate to ever be elected to the City Council.

“That would probably be the most exciting thing if that (had) happened,” Matthes said.

As appetizers were shared and drinks handed out, visitors swung in to wish their luck, and eventually their condolences, to those who were running. The restaurant even had to bring in extra chairs and tables to make every one fit. And although the results went a different way than the crowd had hoped, the supporters held their heads high.

“It would be the syrup on the wall if the mayor won,” Captain Sherry Barnhart said. Barnhart is Christensen’s spouse, who described him as someone who can mesh with anybody.

“He’s very smart and he’s so easy to get along with,” Barnhart said.