WENATCHEE — Running on a platform of watchful city spending and a desire to offload Town Toyota Center to the private sector, challenger Tony Veeder has defeated incumbent Gaby Fernandez for the Position 2 seat on the Wenatchee City Council.

The other two city council incumbents, Doug Miller and Jim Bailey, were comfortably ahead of their opponents in the polls at the first vote tally Tuesday evening. All are 4-year posts.

“We can’t spend our way to good times relying on grants from the federal government or Olympia, because they’ll shut off the spigots. They’re in dire straights,” Veeder, 36, said referring to the city’s riverfront-development and public works budgets heavily reliant on grant funding.

The chief operating officer of local Internet-services company Genext, Veeder added that voters responded to his view that the city’s $53 million events arena should be in private, not public hands.

Veeder said he’d work the first year on the council without a salary, or until budget conditions improve.

As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, Veeder had captured 2,695 votes, or 54 percent of votes cast, to Fernandez’ 2,225 votes and 45 percent.

A Wenatchee School District educator, Fernandez, 38, was appointed to the council in 2008. She expressed disappointment at the defeat but acknowledged her opponent’s capability.

“I wish him luck. He’s very well prepared. Maybe that’s why he won,” she said from a banquet room at Wenatchee’s El Abuelo restaurant where she awaited the election results with area Democrats.

The city’s only councilmember of Hispanic origin, Fernandez added, “It was a fair election. I know I did my best. When you serve a community like Wenatchee, you’re always going to have it in your heart. I’m glad I was appointed.”

The biggest landslide in a city council race is happening in the Position 1 spot, with incumbent Jim Bailey leading challenger Seth Merriel by 57 points.

At the first tally, Bailey had captured 3,854 votes or nearly 78 percent of the total to Merriel’s 1,056 votes and just over 21 percent.

“I’m pleased, because we ran a very visible campaign,” said Bailey, 64, a retired history and government teacher from Wenatchee High School. He was appointed to his council post in 2008.

“Having been appointed to the post, as I was, you officially have that position, but it’s another thing to be elected by the people,” he said. “It will energize me, and it does energize me.” Of the city’s approximately $400,000 budget deficit, he added, “There are some things we definitely need to get working on.”

The head clerk at Wenatchee’s Salvation Army story, challenger Merriel, 39, acknowledged his third unsuccessful bid for a council seat, but he said late Tuesday that he’ll keep trying.

“I only regret that I let the people down who voted for me,” Merriel said. “I’ll try again.”

Position 4 incumbent Doug Miller who ran on a platform of fiscal conservatism and opposition to Town Toyota Center took 2,550 votes for nearly 54 percent of the total to challenger Rick Isaacson’s 2,146 votes and 45 percent.

“I certainly see what my work ahead will look like — conservative and making as wise decisions as we can about how people’s money will be spent over the coming years,” said the 45-year-old Douglas County firefighter. “I’d look for the light at the end of the tunnel and a positive future for Wenatchee residents.”

Challenger Isaacson, a 60-year-old retired Everett police officer, acknowledged a good showing at the polls and pledged to stay involved.

“I’ll continue to be active in city goings on,” he said. “I’ll try to take part. Go to meetings and ground breakings. Keep interested in the politics of what’s going on. That’s why I started in the first place.”

Christine Pratt: 665-1173

pratt@wenatcheeworld.com