Backman takes 45 vote lead over Prestegard

Wahkiakum County election officials counted their latest batch of ballots Thursday morning, and incumbent county Commissioner Mike Backman took a 45-vote lead over challenger Greg Prestegard.

Prestegard had five-vote lead, 999-994 in the Nov. 8 election day tallies.

Meanwhile, in the county's other commission election, incumbent Dan Cothren maintained a solid lead over challenger Robert L. Jungers, 1,245-987.

In other tight races:

--Mike Turner overcame an election night deficit to lead Doug Goelz in the race to fill the Pacific-Wahkiakum Superior Court Judge position. Goelz led 4,775-4,746 on election night. After the two counties updated their tallies, Turner leads 4,917-4,855.

--In the race for the District 19, Position 1, seat in the state legislature, Democrat Teresa Purcell maintained her slim lead over Republican Jim Walsh 20,745-20,304.

--In the race for state Superintendent of Public Instruction, Chris Reykdal led Erin Jones; Reykdal has 51.01 percent of the vote statewide; Jones has 48.99 percent.