Rembert gains in second count

Rob Rembert of Pullman widened the gap over Dan LeBeau by 129 votes for the number-two finish in the race for district court judge after 2,593 more ballots were counted late Friday by the elections office. John Hart, the leader of the three-way race, also increased his margin by picking up 1,101 votes in the second count.

The tally for the three-way race now stands at Hart 3,493, Rembert 2,392 and LeBeau 2,207. The top two will advance to the general election.

The Friday count put the overall count at 9,116 votes for a turnout of more than 40 percent.

In the closest count, incumbent Mark Clinton held a 27-vote edge over Christina Nelson in the race for county treasurer. Clinton had a 12-vote edge after the first count. Both will be on the general election ballot.

Democrat Lisa Brown extended her lead over incumbent Cathy McMorris Rodgers by 21 votes in the added count. The tally now is 4,425 for Brown and 4,189 for McMorris Rodgers.

Whitman and Spokane counties favored Brown while other counties in the Fifth Congressional District voted heavily for McMorris Rodgers.

Both races for state representative remained close with Republican incumbents holding leads. The count after Friday was Mary Dye 4,666 and Jenn Goulet 4,155 and Joe Schmick 4,571 and Matthew Sutherland 4,210.

Results of local levy requests remained the same with both Farmington measures and St. John Fire District’s request for a levy to pave a road into the cemetery finishing under 60 percent. The St. John measure is close at 183 yes and 127 no for 59.03 percent.

Next count of additional ballots here was scheduled for Wednesday. Elections staff estimates 800 ballots remain to be counted.

See updated election grid page 4A.