SANFORD — Voters returned incumbents Joseph Hanslip and Maura Herlihy to the City Council Tuesday, both handily fending off challenges from two political newcomers.

As well, Kenda Williams was returned to the Sanford School Committee and will be joined by Emily Sheffield, who earned significantly more votes than the individual who came in third in the race, Jennifer Davie.

In Sanford, candidates run at large. The new terms commence Jan. 1.

Hanslip earned 2,029 votes and Herlihy got 1,899 in unofficial totals, returning them to the two City Council sets up for grabs. Candidate Kari Zielke earned 1,434 votes, with Crystal Helmreich earning 1,300. A total of 1,676 voters left their city council ballots blank, choosing not to vote for any of those in the running.

Incumbent Kendra Williams was the top vote getter with 2,434 votes for one of two School Committee seats, with Emily Sheffield earning 1,992 for the second seat and Jen Davies trailing with 1,671 votes.. There were 2,241 blank ballots in that race, the City Clerk’s office reported.

Voting was steady in all three wards throughout the day, poll watchers said. Late in the day in wards 1 and 3, the City Clerk’s office had to supply photocopied municipal ballots, because both wards had run out. That made for later results than earlier anticipated, because those 115 votes had to be hand counted.

Sanford Charter Question 1 asked voters to shorten —  from 14 days to 10 — the number of days a public hearing may be held following publication of a proposed ordinance. It was approved 2,348 to 1,322. There were 499 blank ballots.

The second charter amendment modifies the schedule for approving write-in candidates for upcoming elections. The candidate would file a declaration before the close of business on the tenth business day following the filing deadline of municipal nomination papers. That measure was approved 2,398 to 1,327. There were 444 blank ballots.

In all, City Clerk Sue H. Cote estimated 29  percent of Sanford’s 14,186 registered voters cast ballots in the election.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.