Sten clinches victory in race for City Council

Incumbent City Commissioner Erik Sten won’t have to face a November run-off election after all.

Final vote counts for Tuesday’s primary election have not yet been officially certified, but it appears that Sten has received 51 percent of the vote, more than the 50 percent plus one vote necessary to ensure another term as city commissioner No. 2.

Early returns Tuesday night indicated that Sten had received about 46 percent of the vote, which would have required him to face runner-up State Sen. Ginny Burdick in the November general election. As of Wednesday morning, unofficial returns showed Burdick as having received 27 percent of the vote.

The Wednesday morning counts showed that Sten received 49,725 votes, just 513 votes over the 50 percent mark of the total votes cast.

Burdick called Sten early Wednesday to concede the race for one of Portland’s five City Council seats.

Sten is Portland’s longest-serving commissioner. He has been a member of the City Council since 1996.