Election: Cothren, Marsyla elected to commission

Wahkiakum County voters joined the rest of the United States Tuesday in electing the nation’s first African-American president, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois.

Voters also returned Commissioner Dan Cothren to office for a third term and elected Lisa Marsyla as commissioner from District 1.

Cothren, who ran as an Independent, defeated Democrat challenger Wayne Flohr 1,095-856.

Marsyla, a Democrat, defeated Republican Wally Wright 1,157-845.

Other local races were uncontested.

In the presidential election, Wahkiakum voters gave the Democrat Obama-Joe Biden ticket a 1,018-953 margin over the Republican John McCain-Sarah Palin ticket. Nationwide, Obama won 57 percent of the popular vote and a 349-147 advantage in Electoral College votes with three states undecided Wednesday morning.

In statewide races, Wahkiakum voted 1,165 for Republican challenger Dino Rossi over incumbent Democrat Chris Gregoire; however, Gregoire apparently had 53.5 percent of the vote statewide, compared to Rossi’s 46.47 percent.

Democrat Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen won re-election with 60.9 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Marcia McCraw.

Republican Secretary of State Sam Reed bucked the trend, winning re-election over Democrat Jason Osgood with 57.9 percent of the vote.

Democrat Jim McIntire, 52.2 percent of the vote, defeated Republican Allan Martin, 47.8 percent, in the race for state treasurer with a slim margin. In Wahkiakum, McIntire led 953-905.

Democrat State Auditor Brian Sonntag, 62.9 percent statewide, won re-election over Republican J. Richard McEntee. In Wahkiakum, Sonntag led 1,140-737.

Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna, 58.3 percent of the vote, defeated Democrat challenger John Ladenburg and won re-election. In Wahkiakum, McKenna led 1,041-810.

Democrat challenger Peter J. Goldmark, 54 percent statewide, defeated incumbent Republican Doug Sutherland in the race for commissioner of public lands. In Wahkiakum, Sutherland led 1,081-797.

Challenger Randy Dorn, 50.1 percent statewide, led incumbent Teresa Bergeson in the race for superintendent of public instruction. In Wahkiakum, Bergeson led 927-665. The position is non-partisan.

Democrat Mike Kreidler, 60.9 percent statewide, won re-election as state insurance commissioner, defeating Republican John R. Adams. In Wahkiakum, Kreidler led 989-785.

Democrat US Representative Brian Baird, 65 percent of the vote in the district, defeated Republican challenger Michael Delevar. In Wahkiakum, Baird drew 67 percent of the vote.

Initiative Measure 985, concerning transportation, gained only 40 percent of the vote statewide. Wahkiakum voters rejected it 1,251-708.

Initiative Measure 100, allowing certain terminally ill, competent adults to obtain lethal prescriptions, gained a 58.75 percent vote statewide. Wahkiakum voters supported it 1,253-747.

Initiative 1029, concerning long-term care services, gained 74 percent of the vote statewide. Wahkiakum voters supported it 1,409-568.

Wahkiakum PUD Commissioner Larry Reese was unopposed and won re-election with 1,391 votes.

Superior Court Judge Michael Sullivan was unopposed and won re-election. He had 1,410 votes in Wahkiakum County.

Democrat State Senator Brian Hatfield and Representatives Brian Blake and Dean Takko were unchallenged and all won re-election.

Mary Fairhurst, Charles W. Johnson, and Debra L. Stephens were unchallenged and won election to the State Supreme Court.

Wahkiakum County Auditor Diane Tischer said another 168 late arriving ballots and what ever arrived in Wednesday mail would be counted Wednesday, 1 p.m., after The Eagle had gone to press.

Voter turnout was 82 percent, she said Tuesday night.