The next step on Sunday sales of package alcohol in Portal remained unclear Wednesday.

It was a 70-70 tie Tuesday as Portal residents cast votes to decide on the issue. City Clerk Mike Arrieta is scrambling to learn what this means for the town.

“We’re not sure yet” whether the town will hold another election, he said Wednesday. “I’m talking to the secretary of state and to our city attorney. It’s not very common for this to happen.”

In 2011, when the Sunday sales issue was first on the ballot, Portal voters defeated it by six votes, he said.

If the tie vote leads to another election, it would likely be held Dec. 3, Arrieta said.

“We would have to have ballots made up and schedule early voting,” he said.

Two convenience stores within the city limits sell beer and wine.

Portal residents also voted on two contested City Council seats. Seat 3 incumbent Jerry Lanigan took the race with 87 votes (58.8 percent) over challenger Jackie A. Woods, who garnered 61 votes.
In Seat 4, which was open because incumbent Mira Barrett did not run, Nan Finch won with 81 votes, or 57.4 percent, while Sissy Carter collected 60 votes.

Seat 1 incumbent Billy Boggs was unopposed.

 Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.