Voters returned two familiar faces and added a new one to the Helena City Commission Tuesday.

State budget analyst Alan Peura joins the five-member commission, unseating one-term Commissioner Marc Parriman.

Mayor Jim Smith comfortably returned for a second term at the city’s helm. And Commissioner Sandy Oitzinger coasted to a re-election win.

Peura led all vote-getters, with Oitzinger close behind. The top two commission candidates won office.

At a post-election party at Benny’s Bistro, Peura said he knocked on 1,200 doors since July. People were glad to be asked what they thought, he said.

Helenans don’t want to lose their quality of life as the city grows, said Peura. His top priorities include Walking Mall reinvestment, downtown revitalization, Helena Citizens’ Council staff, urban growth boundaries, and development fee implementation.

“Starting tonight, I will begin working hard to bring leadership to the ideas and issues that voters have clearly articulated through the election results,” Peura said.

Oitzinger said she received congratulations as the night progressed. Her stance opposing the Walking Mall roadway was important, she said.

“I also think that I’ve come to the commission with an honest purpose,” she said. “I try to be very open. I try to be respectful.”

Oitzinger, a consultant, said she looks forward to working with the neighborhoods and a revitalized Helena Citizens Council.

The candidates sought jobs that pay the mayor $600 monthly and commissioners $550 per month. All officials get health insurance for themselves, plus up to $150 per month for expenses.

Two years ago, voters also kept an incumbent and installed another newcomer, Paul Cartwright.

Parriman, a contractor, said before the vote his constituency was Helena’s businesses. He also opposed the Walking Mall initiative.

He said Tuesday night that the mall initiative vote may have affected his results. Oitzinger and Peura also raised and spent more money.

“I’ll miss some of it, but not some of the rest,” Parriman said, when asked about leaving the commission.

In May, Smith issued a challenge to voters to pass judgement on his first term. Smith, a lobbyist who heads up some membership groups, won handily Tuesday, capturing nearly two-thirds of the vote.

“Emotions were high around a couple of races and issues, but the tone remained dignified and civil, and that’s been important to me all four years,” he said.

Smith said the two planned Interstate 15 exits, water system conversion and fire service review were high priorities for his second term.

“And, how do we keep up with the growth and preserve the quaint quality of life?” he said. “That’ll be an even bigger deal four years from now than it is today.”

Smith’s challenger, Zach Warden, said he was “pretty stoked” to get as many votes as he did. He said his political aspirations are far from over.

“I think people heard what I had to say and liked what I had to say,” said the roofing contractor. “I didn’t spend one dime on this campaign, other than what it cost me to get going.”

n Mayoral results (with two precincts not completed): Jim Smith 3,311; Zach Warden 1,719.

n Commission results: Alan Peura 3,452, Sandy Oitzinger 3,432, Marc Parriman 2,131, Wayne A. Lewis 813.

n In Helena Citizens Council District 1, Ken Saunders, Amy Glasscock, Mathew Cohn and Laura Erickson were elected. With two of four precincts in District 2 counted, Patty Rambo, Lynn Boone, Rebecca Ridenour, and Larry Mitchell were the top four. In District 6, Jim Christnacht, Becky Bird, Justin Trafton and Allen Tompkins were in the lead with one of three precincts counted.

n In East Helena, voters returned a former mayor to the City Council.

Edward J. Stipich defeated Robert “Buck” Buckmaster in the contest for the Ward 1 South council seat. Stipich gathered 56 of 85 votes cast.

Mayor Terrie Casey and councilmen Anthony Strainer and Chris Anderson were unopposed.

Reporter Jason Mohr can be reached at 447-4075 or helenair.com">jason.mohr@helenair.com.