Handy tops Kinzer; wins commission position

COLFAX — Challenger Tom Handy of Pullman was expected to become commissioner-elect Tuesday.

The Whitman County Canvassing Board was set to finalize the results of the Nov. 3 general election and name Tom Handy as the next county District No. 2 commissioner.

The Canvassing Board met Tuesday after The Gazette went to press.

At last count, Handy had a 350 vote lead over incumbent Dean Kinzer of rural Pullman; 19,130 votes were cast in the race.

Handy, 63, an independent, was in his first run for political office.

“It had us on pins and needles for quite a while,” he said. “It was so close, it was...