Meanwhile, Maxwell issued this statement on Friday:
The general election results are in, and it’s apparent that Laurie Gere will become the new mayor of Anacortes. I wish her all the best as she transitions into her new, very important job, and I trust that the community will give her the same support I have enjoyed over the past 20 years as your mayor.
This morning I called Mayor-elect Gere to congratulate her on her general election victory. We have maintained our deep respect for each other throughout our campaigns, and I’m confident that our city will remain in capable hands with Laurie Gere.
We are working together to schedule appropriate transition briefings that will make her arrival in the mayor’s office as seamless as possible.
Finally, I want to thank the citizens of Anacortes for all of the support you have shown me over the last two decades. It’s truly been an honor to serve as your mayor, and I know Laurie Gere will find the same joy I have in helping Anacortes grow and prosper. I hope the many partnerships we have built between the city and its citizens will continue to flourish under her administration. We are all in this together!