Tuesday's vote: School levy request too close to call

There were few surprises in Wahkiakum County's general election voting on Tuesday.

The county auditor's elections officers counted 1,492 votes and have another 200 that will be counted 9:30 this morning (Thursday).

That count may well decide the Wahkiakum School District's request for a special levy to raise money for security and technology upgrades. In Tuesday's tallies, there were 582 votes in favor of the measure, 50.65 percent, and 567 against. The measure needs a simple majority to pass.

Incumbent Prosecuting Attorney Dan Bigelow had a narrow 725-656 lead over Heidi Heywood. Bigelow filed for re-election, and Heywood was on the ballot as a write-in candidate. She drew over 1 percent of the vote in the primary election to qualify for the general, and at that time she stated she didn't want to be a candidate for the office.

Three other county incumbents faced write-in opposition. All qualified by tallying over 1 percent of the vote in the primary election, and all said they didn't want to be candidates for the general election. None campaigned for the office.

--Incumbent Assessor Bill Coons led Sam Valdez 1,044-314.

--Incumbent Sheriff Mark C. Howie led Mike Balch 964-475.

--Commissioner, District 3, Blair H. Brady led retired Sheriff Gene Strong 837-546.

Other local officials were unopposed.

--Incumbent Diane L. Tischer tallied 1,124 votes;

--Incumbent Clerk Kay M. Holland, 1,120;

--Incumbent District Court Judge William J. Faubion, 967;

--Incumbent Treasurer Tammy Peterson1,085, and

--Incumbent Wahkiakum PUD Commissioner #1, Gene Healy, 1,110.

Statewide and regional elections

U.S. Representative: Bob Dingethal, Democrat, 603, incumbent Jaime Herrera Beutler, Republican, 824. District wide, Herra Beutler leads with 60.62 percent of the vote.

District 19 State Representative: Pos. 1, Dean Takko, Dem., 939, David A. Steenson, Libertarian,449. District wide, Takko leads with 67.56 percent of the vote.

State Representative Pos. 2, Hugh Fleet, Republican, 551, Brian Blake, Democrat, 866. Districgt wide, Blake leads with 64.08 percent of the vote.

State Supreme Court, Justice Position 1, Mary Yu, 868; she was unopposed.

Supreme Court, Justice Position 3, Mary E. Fairhurst 852 ; she was unopposed.

Supreme Court, Justice Position 4, Eddie Yoon 322, Charles W. Johnson 667; statewide, Johnson led with 73.82 percent of the vote.

Supreme Court, Justice Position 7, Debra L. Stephens 732, John (Zamboni) Scannell 281; statewide, Stephens led with 78.08 percent of the vote.

Court of Appeals, Division 2, District 3, Judge Position 1, Rich Melnick 840.