Early Snohomish County election returns are looking relatively decisive throughout the Sky Valley. Many incumbents are sitting comfortably, with several newcomers poised to enter the world of politics.
The results remain unofficial until the election is certified on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Updated counts will be available by 5 p.m. every day, until there are no more ballots to count.
Turnover is forthcoming in the Snohomish County Executive's office, as the battle of the Democrats comes to an end. Snohomish County Council Chairman Dave Somers has a strong lead for the executive seat, with 56.91 percent of the vote. Lovick is trailing at 41.86 percent. Somers, a Monroe-area resident, has represented District 5 on the Snohomish County Council for nearly 14 years.
Somers said during a June interview that concerns over county finances prompted him to run for county executive.
In Monroe, Position No. 4 incumbent Jim Kamp has a handy lead over opponent Shayne Bradley, with 59.50 percent of the vote. Position No. 5 incumbent Ed Davis ran unopposed, and Position No. 6 incumbent Jason Gamble is leading against opponent Patty Gibbons, with 55.56 percent of the vote.
Two political newcomers vied for Monroe's at-large position, the council's only two-year seat. Currently, candidate Kirk Scarboro has a comfortable lead over opponent Patrick Daniels, with 59.35 percent of the vote. A former Navy Seal worked for the Monroe School District for 17 years before retiring in January 2013.
Sultan incumbents gathered at the Volunteers of America Western Washington in Sultan on Tuesday night, prepared to either celebrate their successes or mourn their losses. They anxiously awaited the numbers, which came in shortly after 8 p.m. on the Snohomish County Auditor's website.
Sultan Mayor Carolyn Eslick is leading against opponent Ray George with 67.41 percent of the vote. This will be Mayor Eslick's third term serving as the mayor of Sultan.
Position No. 5 incumbent Joe Neigel is leading against opponent Al Wirta with 56.73 percent of the vote, and Position No. 7 incumbent Jeffrey Beeler is winning against Kay George with 63.25 percent of the vote.
Position No. 4 candidate Russell Wiita exploded onto the scene, taking 73.78 percent of the vote against opponent Bart Dalmasso. Wiita, 21, already has a diverse political background and is looking forward to his first elected position. Wiita served as the Sultan City Council student representative when he was a junior at Sultan High School, and was a policy intern during this year's legislative session in Olympia.
He will graduate from the University of Washington with a bachelor's degree in political science in December.
In Index, all five seats on the Town Council were up for re-election. Town Council Position No. 1 shows that a write-in candidate has a strong lead against Charles Davis, with 59.26 percent of the vote. Thus far, there is no indication as to who the write-in candidate is. Position No. 2 incumbent Bob Hubbard is leading opponent Rick Bott with 66.67 percent of the vote, and Position No. 3 incumbent Blair Corson is leading against Peter Gott with 62.96 percent of the vote.
Also in Index, Position No. 4 incumbent Alexander Gibb is leading opponent Travis Freeman with 57.69 percent of the vote, while Position No. 5 candidate Kem Hunter is leading opponent Bert Shepardson with 65.38 percent of the vote.
Hunter is the former mayor of Index. As mayor, he worked with U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and U.S. Rep. Rick Larson to officially create the Wild Sky Wilderness Act. Wild Sky was a hard-fought designation that established 106,577 acres in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest as a federal wilderness area.
Gold Bar struggled for candidates this year. Position No. 4, currently held by Robert Strom, and Position No. 5, held by Paul Jones, were both up for re-election this year, but neither incumbent filed for candidacy. Candidate Kendall Lewis Wallace eventually stepped up during the special filing period, and will take over Position No. 4. He currently has 93.60 percent of the vote.
Wallace was the only candidate in Gold Bar.
Snohomish County Fire District No. 3 Commissioner Rick Edwards will lose his seat to opponent Randy Woolery, who is winning with 61.84 percent of the vote.
The Snohomish County Fire District No. 26 Proposition 1 general obligation bond measure is passing with a hearty 74.38 percent rate of approval. The proposition will authorize the district to acquire the land to construct and equip a new fire training facility, renovate Gold Bar Fire Station No. 53 and purchase a new fire engine. The bonds will total $950,000.
To check the election results, visit http://snohomishcountywa.gov/224/Elections-Voter-Registration.
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