LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With two big fields of candidates for the city councils of Clearlake and Lakeport, preliminary election results showed that voters supported keeping incumbent council members, while also selecting some brand new faces.

The ballot count issued by Lake County Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley early Wednesday morning is still preliminary, and results will not become final until the official canvass is completed in about a month.

As such, the large fields, with close margins between candidates, could see some changes in percentages and placement before the races are finally called.

There were three seats available on both the Clearlake City Council and the Lakeport City Council in Tuesday's election.

In Clearlake, incumbents Nick Bennett and Joyce Overton sought reelection, and led the field, based on the preliminary results.

Bennett, appointed earlier this year to fill the remainder of Denise Loustalot's term, received 1,306 votes, or 24 percent, while Overton – seeking a fourth term – received 1,167 votes, or 21.4 percent.

The early vote tally suggests that businessman Phil Harris will take the third seat, having brought in 1,145 votes, or 21 percent.

Also in the race are Joey Luiz, who previously served one term on the council, with 786 votes, or 14.4 percent; Bill Shields, 746 votes, or 13.7 percent; and Jeremy Mayfield, with 287 votes, or 5.3 percent.

In Lakeport, in his bid for a second term, Councilman Kenny Parlet – a well-known local businessman – was the top vote-getter in the preliminary results, receiving 685 votes, or 22.9 percent.

In second place, another local businessman, Tim Barnes, received 592 votes, or 19.8 percent, followed by George Spurr, who currently serves on the Lakeport Planning Commission, with 532 votes, or 17.8 percent.

Rounding out the field are Ted Mandrones, a former councilman, with 504 votes, or 16.9 percent of the vote; consultant Michael S. Green, with 354 votes, or 11.9 percent; and Nathan Maxman, the executive director of the Northshore Community Center, with 309 votes, or 10.3 percent of the vote.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.