By Chris Hendrickson, Monitor
A few of the Sultan City Council candidates gathered at J.D. Slicks on election night, anxiously awaiting the unofficial election results. At just after 8:20 p.m., the preliminary numbers were in. A week later, two of the races are still too close to call. Although turnout initially looked weak, as mail-in ballots were counted, it strengthened to a respectable 44 percent in the upper valley.
CITY OF SULTAN COUNCIL POSITION 1
On election night, Incumbent Ken Marshall was in the lead with 49.89 percent, or 217 votes, and Bob McCarty was close behind him at 49.2 percent, or 214 votes.
That outcome reversed itself by Friday, when McCarty pulled ahead. He now has 441 votes to Marshall's 427. If the candidates are separated by one half of one percent or less, a machine recount will be automatic. At last count, they are separated by 14 votes; if that number shrinks to five, there will be a recount.
CITY OF SULTAN COUNCIL POSITION 2
John Seehuus ran unopposed and is at 95.62 percent, or 349 votes.
CITY OF SULTAN COUNCIL POSITION 3
Rocky Walker is hanging on to a slim lead with 50.62 percent, or 452 votes. Incumbent Kay George is right behind him at 48.60 percent, or 434 votes. This race, too, is only separated by a handful of votes, and should the gap narrow, could also go to a recount.
CITY OF SULTAN COUNCIL POSITION 6
Marianne Naslund is in the lead at 54.51 percent, or 477 votes. Write-in votes were counted at 26.63 percent, or 233 votes. Bart Dalmasso ran as the write-in candidate for this seat.
Geoffrey Evans, who dropped from the race too late to have his name removed from the ballot, still received 18.86 percent, or 165 votes.
FIRE DISTRICT 5 COMMISSIONER POSITION 2
Brian Copple ran unopposed.
The next update will be posted on the Snohomish County Auditor's website on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. The race will be certified Nov. 26.
"For now I am delighted in the initial numbers that have come in on election night,GÇ¥ said Marianne Naslund. "I will anxiously monitor the Snohomish County Auditor's website over the next couple of days to see where the dust settles in the very close race between Rocky Walker and Kay George for Position 3 and Ken Marshall and Bob McCarty for Position 1.GÇ¥
GOLD BAR MAYOR
In the race to replace Joe Beavers as mayor of Gold Bar, Linda Loen appears to be the clear victor with 54 percent of the vote. Because there was no primary in the race, as there were no candidates, three names appear on the ballot. Larry Dum has 14 percent of the vote, and Elizabeth LaZella has 28 percent.
GOLD BAR CITY COUNCIL
There were no contested races, so Thomas Palmer will be new to the council this year, and Lee Hodo and Davi Martin will return.
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