By David Pan/Lynnwood Today

Political newcomer Nicola Smith was well on her way to defeating incumbent Lynnwood Mayor Don Gough after the initial election results were released Tuesday night.

Smith, the Dean of Student Life and Development at Edmonds Community College, received 61.40 percent of the vote (2,076 votes) to Gough’s 37.98 percent (1,284 votes).

“I think that the results say Lynnwood voters are ready for a change,” said Smith, who was running for public office for the first time. “A lot of people were voting for me because they are confident that I can do the job and they weren’t against Don. It wasn’t an anybody but Don vote. It’s because they really believe that there is someone who can step in and provide some leadership for this city and I’m really excited to do that.

Gough was running for a third term. He previously served on the City Council before being elected Mayor in 2005.

Smith was with campaign volunteers and supporters at an election night gathering at Lombardi’s restaurant when the results were shown on a television. The next vote count will be at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5.

Smith is proud of the campaign she ran.

“We ran a really clean campaign,” she said. “I stuck to the high road. I didn’t move into any smear campaign tactics because that’s not who I am. I am proof that you can get the vote on your own credibility. It works.”

Smith will bring a set of fresh eyes when she takes office in January.

“I think the priorities are going to be relationship building, trust building, bringing respect to the city and for the city,” Smith said. “I really want to get in there and set a standard and hold people accountable to the goals that we set as a team.

“I want us working as a team to set our goals and move Lynnwood into the place that voters want to go.”